Fulfilling Chinese Dream Together, Achieving Vigorous Progress in New Era

Ahead of International Women's Day (March 8), Chinese President Xi Jinping extended festive greetings and best wishes to the country's women, of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life, when he attended a group meeting during the fourth annual session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC). Xi delivered an important speech during the meeting on March 6, 2021. That speech aroused great attention among and feedback from women living in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macao, China's Taiwan, and Chinese women living overseas.

Following are excerpts of the women and women's organizations' feedback sent to the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF):

Ho Teng Iat, Deputy Director of the Committee for Liaison with Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese of the CPPCC National Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the ACWF and President of the Women's General Association of Macao (WGAM)

President Xi's speech gave the greatest encouragement and strongest support to Chinese women, including women in the special administrative region (SAR) of Macao. Since Macao's return to China in 1999, the government of Macao SAR has provided a system, guaranteeing that an enabling environment which benefits Macao women's development has been created. Our fellow sisters ought to seize new opportunities, enhance their professional skills and competitive abilities, broaden their horizons, take the initiative to learn timely the country's new development policies, give full play to the advantages in their respective fields, take part in the overall development of their country, and contribute their wisdom during the drawing of a great blueprint for the new development strategy during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) period. The WGAM cares for and provides support to disadvantaged groups, including women affected by the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, and will call on our sisters to contribute their strength during the building of our beautiful home in Macao.

Wendy Man, CPPCC Member, ACWF's Specially Invited Delegate and Vice-Chairman of Clifford Group

We felt warm and encouraged after we received President Xi's festive greetings and learned President Xi's expectations for us ahead of International Women's Day. We should act to put into practice President Xi's encouragement. This year marks the centennial of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and also the first year of the 14th Five-Year Plan. Let us answer President Xi's call to be the builders of the great cause, the advocates of civilized social conduct and the brave strivers who pursue our dreams. We should show the charm of women in the new era by competing vigorously with our male counterparts.

Pansy Ho Chiu-king, Member of ACWF's Executive Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPPCC and President of Hong Kong Federation of Women (HKFW)

President Xi's speech was encouraging. We must play our role of holding up "half the sky" in the new era and during the new journey of our country's development. Regarding women's work in the Hong Kong SAR, we must support firmly the principle of "One Country, Two Systems," advocate the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong," and make good use of women's advantages in organizing social activities and promoting family virtues. We should lead the next generation in participating in patriotic actions, grasping precisely the guidance on economic construction based on the 14th Five-Year Plan, participating in the great cause of the country and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), strengthening young talented women's exchanges in their motherland, and acting as a bridge between women's organizations at home and abroad.

Hong Kong Fujian Women Association

During his speech, President Xi spoke of the achievements women have accomplished in alleviating poverty, combating the COVID-19 epidemic and in other endeavors. We are encouraged and gaining confidence. We will study and implement the essence of President Xi's important speech and support the Hong Kong SAR government's requirements regarding epidemic prevention and containment, according to the situation of our region. We will contribute women's strength as "half of the sky." Given the enactment of the Hong Kong National Security Law and implementation of the principle of "patriots governing Hong Kong," the Hong Kong SAR will surely regenerate its charm.

Jin Ling, President of Hong Kong Island Women's Association

President Xi extended festive greetings and best wishes to our country's women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life, and spoke of women's role as "half of the sky" in all fields. President Xi raised expectations and requirements for women's federations' work, showcasing the people's leader's care for women and the great importance he attaches to women's undertakings. We will shoulder our unique responsibilities in society and family, create a good family atmosphere, improve family education, and inherit and promote family virtues. In particular, we will deepen Hong Kong people's understanding about the history and culture of our country, enhance our emotional bonds with our nation and make Chinese culture shine in the Hong Kong SAR.

Sally Wu, Vice-President of Shenzhen Women's Federation and Deputy Head of Phoenix InfoNews Channel, Phoenix Satellite Television

"To be the builders of the great cause, the advocates of civilized social conduct and the brave strivers who pursue our dreams;" such comments summarize contemporary Chinese women's charm. As a woman working in the Hong Kong SAR, I will make my contribution on the stage of GBA. I will help enhance women's mutual learning, exchanges and cooperation in GBA, raise GBA women's influence on the global stage, help women explore their potential and cultivate their globalized perspective of views, and I will help GBA women find their position and sustainable development path in a brand-new background of globalization.

Zhou Qianyi, Member of the Executive Committee of Beijing Women's Federation and Secretary General of ACWF Hong Kong Delegates Association

We will give better play to women's strength, do our part well in the workplace, educate well the next generation of our families, improve education on Chinese culture, teach our next generation to have greater love for the motherland and their region, and to contribute their strength to the construction of our home country.

Maisy Ho, Vice-President of Guangdong Women's Federation and Vice-Chairman of Ladies' Committee of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, Hong Kong

I want to express my gratitude to President Xi for the best wishes he extended to all Chinese women ahead of International Women's Day and for the significance of his approval of women's status in society. I hope all segments of society will continue to care for and safeguard women's rights and interests, provide supporting policies and measures for women to give full play to their strength and advantages and encourage women to make new contributions to our society.

Yang Yu-si, Specially Invited Delegate of Guangdong Women's Federation and Founding President of Hong Kong Wen Shan Society

President Xi raised new requirements and a new direction for us in a new historical period, which made us feel extremely warm. We are clearer about the long road we are going to march and the great responsibilities we are going to shoulder. We have a deeper understanding of the intimate connection we have — in our blood and bones — with all people of our nation. Our hearts are closely connected with each other.

Melinda Chan Mei Yi, Vice-President of Guangdong Women's Federation and President of Sin Meng Association of Macao

President Xi's festive greetings and wishes to women, including women in the Macao SAR, make us feel warm. I believe sisters in the Macao SAR will remember the guidance given by the president of our country, and shoulder our responsibility as holding up "half of the sky" as we take part actively in the construction and development of our motherland and the maintenance of prosperity and stability of the Macao SAR.

Chen Xiaoyan, Member of the Executive Committee of the ACWF and Executive Director of the All-China Federation of Taiwan Compatriots

I felt proud after I heard President Xi's approval, as said in his speech, of the important role played by women. I was encouraged by President Xi's expectations for women. Our Party and country attach great importance to women's work, making me believe that women will have a promising future and a lot of goals to achieve. In accordance with the deepened cross-Strait integration and development, I believe more and more people from Taiwan will take part in the great rejuvenation of our Chinese nation and create a beautiful future together.

Lee Hung Lan, Deputy Executive President of the Association of Taiwan Investment Enterprises on the Mainland and Chairperson of the Association's Working Committee on Women

President Xi fully approved in his speech Chinese women's spirit of working hard and striving to be pioneers. Women from China's Taiwan who work and live in the mainland have paid great attention to President Xi's speech, which has aroused our resonance and feedback. Women from China's Taiwan who work and live in the mainland have never missed an opportunity to participate in the progress of achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. To fulfill the common dream of our Chinese nation, we should integrate our families' dreams of happiness with the Chinese Dream, be the builders of the great cause, the advocates of civilized social conduct and the brave strivers who pursue our dreams.

Chen Xiurong, Vice-President of Fujian Women's Federation and Honorary President of Fuzhou Taiwanese Entrepreneur Association

President Xi pointed out in his important speech that to fulfill the great blueprint of the development of our country, all Chinese including women have to make efforts together. President Xi expected women to make new and greater contributions to fulfilling the Chinese Dream of the great national rejuvenation. I will inherit our older generations' belief that people across the Strait are one family and connect the development of our enterprises with our country's prosperity, our nation's vigor and our people's happiness. I will do my part to help deepen cross-Strait integration and progress.

Huang Yu, Member of the Executive Committee of the ACWF and Executive Director of Fujian Federation of Taiwan Compatriots

I was excited and encouraged when I watched the broadcast of President Xi's speech. I will make an effort to implement the concept of putting "people and life first," make good use of our advantages in the field of health care, provide good quality medical-care services to our people, including business investors in China's Taiwan, and contribute to our national reunification.

Xueping Yuan, President of Chinese Women's Association in Japan

President Xi's festive greetings extended to Chinese women overseas made us feel warm and encouraged. Chinese overseas will remember President Xi's words, and we will hold our great dream of the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, inherit our traditions and moral virtues, work diligently in the new era and seize opportunities to pursue our dreams courageously. We will shoulder our social responsibilities, balance work and life, shine on a stage highlighting diversity, and fulfill personal values in the progress of our home country.

Zhong Weishuang, President of the Chinese Women Association in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

I posted timely President Xi's important speech on my WeChat Moments. Our sisters overseas are thankful for President Xi's great care for women. Under the leadership of President Xi, our great motherland has achieved marvelous progress in poverty alleviation. I am so proud of the wisdom of the leadership of the CPC.

Ye Yulan, Former President of European Chinese Women's General Association and Founding President of the Spanish Chinese Women's Federation

The CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core persists in putting "people and life first." China has achieved a great victory during its fight against COVID-19. That has showcased a great country's responsibility to the world and China has made an important contribution to the global fight against the pandemic. We, Chinese overseas, think of our motherland all of the time. We are proud of our motherland. Long live our motherland!

Jiang Nanying, Permanent Honorary President, and Chen Xiaomei, President of Belgian Chinese Women's Federation

We forwarded timely President Xi's important speech and festive greetings to sisters of our federation. It gave us great support and encouragement. We will answer actively the call from the ACWF and continue working hard to make our contributions.

Jiang Haiying, President of the German Chinese Women's Federation

President Xi hopes women will be the builders of the great cause, the advocates of civilized social conduct and the brave strivers who pursue our dreams. In his speech, President Xi praised women's great contributions to the construction of the motherland, poverty alleviation and the fight against COVID-19. Our sisters overseas have become more confident. We want to be advocates of a good social atmosphere and hardworking dream pursuers who contribute more strength to the building of our society, families and a beautiful future.

Guan Jie, President of Catalonia Association of Chinese Women in Spain

President Xi's important speech made us feel much encouraged. Members of our association will study carefully the essence of this speech. Under the guidance of the ACWF, we will be the builders of the great cause, the advocates of civilized social conduct and the brave strivers who pursue our dreams. We will always keep close communications with the ACWF, never forget our original aspirations and forge ahead with continuous efforts.

Zhang Sujiu, Founding President of Jinguo Committee in the United States

Under the leadership of President Xi, great achievements have been made in the development of Chinese women's undertakings. We are glad to see that respect for and the care of women and children have become the country's will, the general public's belief and a trend of society. Women in China have a broader platform of participating in economic development and women's health conditions are rising steadily. During the Global Leaders Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (held in 2015), President Xi made important remarks in which he outlined the significance of women's overall development, and during which he shared China's practices and presented China's proposals. Chinese overseas are proud of our motherland's rapid development. We wish sincerely that in the historical progress of the fulfillment of the Chinese Dream, Chinese women's undertakings will continue developing and open a new chapter.

Wang Hua, President of Central Association of Chinese Women in Argentina

In Argentina, where the situation of COVID-19 pandemic is still serious, our hearts were warm when we received festive greetings from our motherland ahead of International Women's Day and we felt the cordial care of President Xi. We firmly believe that under the leadership of the CPC, Chinese women will play a more active role while embarking on the journey to fully build a modern socialist country. We will remember our responsibilities and missions and work with our sisters to contribute strength to the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Wang Xuexia, President of Union of Chinese Women of Brazil

We thank the ACWF for timely forwarding President Xi's important speech and festive greetings. The cordial care given by President Xi made us feel excited. Chinese women overseas have always thought of our motherland and we are willing to make efforts to help our motherland become stronger.

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