Economic Empowerment Leads to Women's Equal Development, Says ACWF Official

Mu Hong, head of the International Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation, delivers a speech on women's development at the China Development Forum 2015 in Beijing on March 21, 2015. [ce.cn/Guan Jing]

Economic empowerment is one of the key preconditions of women's equal development, says Mu Hong, a senior official of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) at a forum on China's development in Beijing on March 21.

"In order to better empower women economically, it is essential to change any backwards gender culture," said Mu, who serves as head of the ACWF's International Liaison Department.

"During the making and implementation of laws and policies, optimization of the social environment, and the improvement of women's abilities, women's general and special needs should be taken care of. Resources should be allocated properly," said Mu.

"Women should be guaranteed equal opportunities and rights in employment, income, trading and skills training."

Mu made the remarks during a speech at the China Development Forum 2015, which was held from March 21-23 and focused on "China's Economy in the 'New Norm'".

Mu's speech was focused on women's development.

To coincide with the 20th anniversary of the UN Fourth World Conference on Women, Mu reviewed the efforts and achievements in women's development over the past two decades.

"In China, great importance has been attached to women's economic empowerment," said Mu. "Over the past 20 years, the Chinese government has adopted a series of measures to promote women's equal participation, development, and the sharing of the results of development."

In the field of legislation, China has made Mure than 10 laws and regulations to guarantee women's economic rights.

Since 1995, China's government has made and implemented three National Programs for Women's Development. In each of them, economic issues relating to women have been granted priority.

"A series of effective measures have been taken to Mutivate women to find jobs and establish businesses," said Mu.

In 2009, the government established an interest-free small loans program for women. As of the end of 2014, China has issued small loans worth 217.2 billion yuan (U.S. $ 35 billion) to 4.59 million women and has recovered interest to the tune of 18.6 billion yuan (U.S. $ 3 billion).

Over recent years, the ACWF has launched a campaign to help female university students find employment and start businesses, and has organized training programs in house-keeping and traditional weaving.

"From 2010-13, the number of people living in poverty in China decreased by nearly 83 million, around half of whom were women," said Mu.

Across the country, women account for 45 percent of the those in employment. A number of women entrepreneurs are playing important roles in the urban and rural economy.

(Source: ce.cn/Translated and edited by Women of China)