Chinese women were urged by officials Thursday to unlock their
spirits and play a more active role in the nation's economic
development, political governance and cultural affairs.
State officials at the latest executive committee meeting of the All-China
Women's Federation also called for more efforts to facilitate
women's access to the job market and their business endeavors.
"We need to put the interests of women, including the grassroots
members, onto centre stage and serve them with all our heart and
soul," said Wang
Zhaoguo, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist
Party of China Central Committee.
Wang was speaking yesterday at the Fifth Conference of the Eighth
Executive Committee of All-China Women's Federation, the largest
women's organization in China.
Wang said one of the country's major missions is to encourage more
women to participate in the nation's economic undertakings, to help
strengthen their quality and capacity for business operation and
employment.
Throwing the ball into the federation's court, Wang said that it
can serve as a bridge connecting the nation's female populace with
the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the government.
Wang added that branches of the federation across the nation should
mobilize women to strive for the economic and social goals set by
the 16th
National Congress of the CPC.
"We will continue to increase and improve our services to women and
to secure their interests in all fields," said Peng Peiyun, the
federation's president.
(China Daily December 13, 2002)