Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) and President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), attended a virtual symposium in Beijing on April 29, 2022. Natalya Kochanova, Chairperson of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus, also attended. The event was held for women representatives (including parliamentarians) of the legislatures of China and Belarus.

Shen and Kochanova agreed to work on the important goal of implementing consensus reached by the State leaders of both countries, enrich the cooperation of the legislatures and play women's roles in enhancing the development of China-Belarus relations.

During the symposium, attendees discussed women's participation in State governance, legislation of the protection laws on women's rights and interests, and women's roles in international coordination, anti-epidemic efforts and in medical and health care.

Witnessed by Shen and Kochanova, Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, and Yelena Bogdan, President of Belarusian Women's Union (BWU), signed a memorandum of cooperation between the ACWF and the BWU.

Huang and Bogdan both spoke of the development of China-Belarus relations and women's exchanges. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the founding of diplomatic relations between China and Belarus. Representatives of the women's organizations said they hoped the 30th anniversary would be a new start for continuous work to benefit the people of both countries, advance friendship and cooperation, create a better future for China-Belarus relations, and contribute women's wisdom and strength to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The symposium's attendees included: Jiang Xiaojuan, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC Social Development Affairs Committee; Deng Li, Member of the NPC Social Development Affairs Committee; Cui Li, Vice-President of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; Lin Yi, Member of the Leading Party Members' Group of the ACWF; and Zhou Hong, Member of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee.

(Women of China English Monthly)