An exhibition highlighting ethnic crafts made in Turkmenistan kicked off in the China National Museum of Women and Children in Beijing on October 18.

Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and then-President of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), attended the exhibition with Ogulgerek Berdymukhammedova, wife of Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, a national leader of Turkmenistan and Chairperson of the Upper Chamber of the National Council of Turkmenistan. Berdymukhammedova was in Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF 2023).

Huang Xiaowei, Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, and Vice-Chairperson of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, presided over the exhibition's opening ceremony.

Shen welcomed Berdymukhammedova to China and she congratulated on the exhibition's successful opening. Shen said friendly exchanges between China and Turkmenistan have a long history. Under the strategic leadership of State leaders, the two countries will enhance mutual learning and people-to-people connectivity, encourage and strengthen communications on traditional arts and crafts, deepen friendships among the people, and contribute to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership and the building of the Belt and Road, Shen noted.

Berdymukhammedova congratulated China on hosting BRF 2023 and she praised China for its development and progress in recent years. Berdymukhammedova added she will support the people of China and Turkmenistan to enhance communications and cooperation.

Approximately 100 participants attended the ceremony, including Tamara Vucic, wife of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic; Ogulhajat Ishanguliyeva, President of Türkmenhaly State Association; Chinar Rustemova, Executive Secretary of Turkmen National Commission for UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization); Cui Li, Vice-President of the Good-Neighborliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization; diplomats and ambassadors' spouses from relevant countries; and college students and media representatives.

Shen and Huang accompanied Berdymukhammedova, Mrs Vucic and other guests as they visited another exhibition on the development of Chinese women and children's cause during the first decade of the new era, held also in the museum. ACWF's leaders introduced comprehensively the historic achievements reached in Chinese women and children's undertakings and in the building of families, under firm leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, with Comrade
Xi Jinping at its core. They also outlined the Spring Bud Project, which recently received the 2023 UNESCO Prize for Girls' and Women's Education.

The guests spoke of the fruitful results China has achieved in the development of women's cause. They expressed their willingness to enhance communications, deepen cooperation, continue the traditional friendship with China, and to contribute women's strength in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

(Source: Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation)