She said China will continue to support UNESCO in organizing the award, and help empower more children and women to embrace a brighter future with opportunities and platforms for international educational cooperation created by the joint development of the Belt and Road.

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay said that nearly 130 million girls are out of school globally and that women take up two-thirds of the 750 million illiterate people in the world.

Advancing girls' and women's education is an important part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and a focus of UNESCO, added Azoulay.

The UN body, she said, thinks highly of the remarkable achievements accomplished by China in this cause and appreciates the outstanding contribution of Peng.

In a meeting with Azoulay before the special session, Peng said China firmly supports UNESCO's and the director-general's work, and hopes the two sides will continue to deepen cooperation to jointly promote world peace and prosperity as well as the progress of human civilization.

Azoulay said that China has made great achievements in the past 70 years, including progress in the development of education and women's affairs.

UNESCO highly values the cooperation with China and the support from China is of great importance under current circumstances, she said.