China has made great progress in achieving gender equality, and in promoting women's all-round development. As the Chinese saying goes, "Women hold up half the sky." Women have played an equal part with men in promoting the country's scientific and technological development. 

To encourage scientific and technological women workers to make greater contributions to promoting China's scientific and technological development, Sichuan Women's Association for Science and Technology on March 18 hosted the province's first women scientists' academic conference. The event was held in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province. 

Several heads of the association, who are academic leaders in their fields of study, delivered academic reports. More than 100 scientific and technological women workers (in Sichuan) and leaders of Sichuan Provincial Department of Civil Affairs, Sichuan Women's Federation, Sichuan Association for Science and Technology and other organizations attended. 

The association is composed of outstanding scientific and technological women workers from institutes of higher learning, research institutes and enterprises (in Sichuan).

"Many scientific and technological women workers, who strive to develop an innovative spirit and entrepreneurial competence, have played important roles in 'holding up half the sky' in Sichuan's scientific and technological work," Liao Yongkang, Deputy Director-General of Sichuan's Department of Civil Affairs, has been quoted as saying. He highlighted the association's important role in promoting the development of scientific and technological women workers. 

Yang Juan, President of Sichuan Women's Federation, said the federation will strive to provide better services to scientific and technological women personnel, so they can play greater roles in scientific and technological innovation.

(Women of China English Monthly May 2023 issue)