Storyline: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the the World Trade Organization (WTO), said that leadership opportunities should be based on merit, regardless of gender or race, to ensure women can fully contribute to global progress. In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Okonjo-Iweala acknowledged that her appointment as WTO head in 2021 was a milestone, but stressed that she acquired the role due to her qualifications rather than her identity. "I think, and I'm grateful that I got the job, but it's not because I'm a woman, an African, it's because the people that thought: 'yes, someone who can lead this organization.' I want people to think of women in that light. When I sit here and people tell me you're the first woman and the first African, I have very mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it's a good thing. On the other hand, I'm saying, so late in the game, the first woman and the first African. We don't have to be in this position because we are women or Africans, but we have to be in the position because we are merit worthy to lead the organization and if the leader is a woman and an African, good, but there are many women who have the qualifications," she said. With the Global Leaders' Meeting on Women set to take place in Beijing from Oct. 13 to 14, the world is eying the next pathways toward gender equality. In Okonjo-Iweala's view, many qualified women already possess the skills needed for leadership if given an opportunity. "When I was doing the interview for my job, I was a little impertinent and I said to them: 'what you need is the best person to lead this organization and help it change and help it reform.' And I said to them: 'well, of course, I think I can do it.' There are so many women with so many good qualifications and if you look at the younger generation of women, you'll be so proud. So many of them have the qualities it takes. So, let's give women even more of a chance," she said. Shotlist: FILE: Date and Location Unknown: 1. Women posing for photos in front of building Geneva, Switzerland - Recent: 2. SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General (partially overlaid with shots 3-5): "I think, and I'm grateful that I got the job, but it's not because I'm a woman, an African, it's because the people that thought: 'yes, someone who can lead this organization.' I want people to think of women in that light. When I sit here and people tell me you're the first woman and the first African, I have very mixed feelings about it. On the one hand, it's a good thing. On the other hand, I'm saying, so late in the game, the first woman and the first African. We don't have to be in this position because we are women or Africans, but we have to be in the position because we are merit worthy to lead the organization and if the leader is a woman and an African, good, but there are many women who have the qualifications." [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Date and Location Unknown: 3. Women's meeting in progress FILE: China - Exact Location, Date Unknown: 4. Various of female workers in meeting 5. African women visiting library [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Date and Location Unknown: 6. Chinese female peacekeepers 7. Peacekeepers, African children posing for photos Geneva, Switzerland - Recent: 8. SOUNDBITE (English) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, WTO Director-General (partially overlaid with shots 9-10): "When I was doing the interview for my job, I was a little impertinent and I said to them: 'what you need is the best person to lead this organization and help it change and help it reform.' And I said to them: 'well, of course, I think I can do it.' There are so many women with so many good qualifications and if you look at the younger generation of women, you'll be so proud. So many of them have the qualities it takes. So, let's give women even more of a chance." [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: China - Exact Location, Date Unknown: 9. Various of women working in plant 10. Various of female researchers in lab [SHOTS OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] FILE: Date and Location Unknown: 11. Women posing for photos at port. [Restrictions : No access Chinese mainland]