[Photo by Fan Wenjun]

The Internet Society of China and China Women's News recently hosted a forum, Digitalization Adds Impetus to Women's Development. The event was part of the 2023 China Internet Conference, held by Internet Society of China in Beijing. 

During the forum, entrepreneurs and digital experts, from various regions of the country, shared women's exploration and experiences in empowering themselves in the digital age. 

Chen Jiachun, Executive Deputy Secretary-General of Internet Society of China, noted the forum aimed to motivate women to play greater roles in promoting scientific and technological innovation, and to help women improve digital literacy, so they can cope with challenges during the transformation to a digital society. 

Several leaders of Internet-related organizations delivered keynote speeches. Zhang Xueli, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Internet Conference, gave a speech to explain how digitalization offers a variety of opportunities for women's empowerment. She also called on society to create a more open, secure and gender-equal environment, so more women can do their bit to boost the digital economy. 

Lu Yutong, Director of the National Supercomputer Center in Guangzhou (capital of South China's Guangdong Province), is the first woman program chair of the ISC High Performance Conference. During her speech, she highlighted how China has achieved great, leapfrog development in its supercomputing industry during the past several decades. 

She said she believed many women have strong logic, and they tend to be careful. She also said she hoped more women will use those advantages in their work, so they can play greater roles in scientific and technological innovation. 

Liu Chang, Deputy General Manager of People's Data Management Co., Ltd. (in Beijing), noted statistics recently issued by the company's data platform indicated women's consumption market, career development paths and cultural lives have become more diverse (than in previous years) during the digital age. 

Organizers hosted a roundtable, during which women entrepreneurs shared their career-development experiences. They also encouraged women to start online businesses. 

During another roundtable, with the theme of "How Can Women Improve Leadership in the Digital Era," several women leaders with Internet-based scientific and technological companies shared their experiences in improving core competitiveness, so they could achieve success in their careers.

(Women of China English Monthly October 2023 issue)