Women Share Inspirational Stories to Mark 40th Anniv. of Reform, Opening-up

Participants at the opening [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

Several inspirational women spoke about their personal growth and shared stories at a publicity campaign opening ceremony in Beijing on July 11 to talk about the achievements and benefits brought about by China's reform and opening-up drive.

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) sponsored the campaign on theme of "Following Party's Leadership, Making New Progress," and will organize a number of representatives of National March 8th Red-Banner Holders to give speeches to grassroots people amid the nationwide celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the policy.

During the opening, Ju Ping, a famous children's TV host and program producer at CCTV (China Central Television), talked with the audience about her growth from a graduate in the major of preschool teachers and shared letters written by the public to her over the past three decades.

Ju said she has never felt any regret for her decade-long dedications to children and will strictly fulfill her responsibilities and missions as a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to accompany and help children grow up healthily in the future.

Drawing upon her inspirational talk, Yang Jia, a professor at University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and member of the Central Committee of the Jiu San Society (one of China's eight non-Communist political parties), said the realization of happiness has built a bridge between the fulfillment of personal dreams and the promotion of national progress.

Yang passed the National College Entrance Examination and became a college student in 1977 when China resumed the most important test of many young people after a 10-year suspension. She was only 15 at the time.

Yang became the ever youngest lecturer in the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences when she was 24. However, life was never so smooth for her because she completely lost her eyesight at 29.

To the surprise of many people, Yang has never resigned to the misfortune. She has returned to her classroom, taken part in many scientific research projects, and become the first vision-impaired student from other countries to receive a MPA (Master of Public Administration) degree from Harvard University. She assumed the post of Vice-President of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Wei Lingling, a researcher from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and chairperson of Beijing AgriGarden Technology Co., shared with the audience about her involvement in the sectors of modern agriculture and gardening over the past few years.

Wei has taken part and played a leading role in many State-level agricultural researches in these years.

She emphasized in her speech that she would keep firmly in mind her mission of promoting the development of modern Chinese agriculture through pressing ahead with scientific studies and the transformation of relevant research into social forces.

Song Yushui, deputy president in Beijing Intellectual Property Court and part-time vice-president of the ACWF, spoke with the audience about her engagement in maintaining the authority of laws, safeguarding legal justice, and protecting the rights and interests of all concerned in lawsuits.

Song continued that Chinese people have made a noticeable improvement in their legal awareness and thus benefited much from the maintenance of national stability over the past four decades.

Song noted that she is delighted to work together with the public to further deepen the public awareness of laws and promote social justice.

Those present at the opening event included over 300 representatives of female volunteers, model families, trainees from Haidian Women's Federation in Beijing, and employees from a Beijing-based catering group.

Meanwhile, the event was transmitted live to the audiences across the nation on the internet.

Four speakers at the opening [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

Ju Ping (2nd from right) with several attendees at the event [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

Yang Jia delivers a speech at the event. [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

Wei Lingling gives her speech at the event. [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

Song Yushui delivers an address at the event. [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

Attendees at the opening [Women of China/Zhang Jiamin]

(Women of China)