Vice-Premier Vows to Further Promote Gender Equality

Shen Yueyue (L3), vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the ACWF, poses for a group photo with foreign attendees. [Women of China/Fan Wenjun]

China will further promote the establishment of systems ensuring gender equality and protect women's rights and interests, Chinese Vice-Premier Liu Yandong said at a conference held in Beijing on Tuesday.

The conference was jointly launched by the National Working Committee on Children and Women (NWCCW) under the State Council and the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), to mark the 20th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women and the implementation of the basic State policy of gender equality.

The Fourth World Conference on Women was hosted in Beijing in September 1995. The Beijing Declaration and the Platform for Action (BPFA), subsequently adopted at that time, became the blueprints for women's empowerment and the key global policy documents on gender equality. During the historic event, China declared gender equality as a basic State policy.

Liu, who also serves as director of the NWCCW, stressed that relevant government departments should learn and implement Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech delivered at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, as well as Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's instructions on safeguarding women's rights and interests.

She also called for the promotion of the spirit of the Fourth World Conference on Women, to firmly implement the basic State policy of gender equality and promote the new development of gender equality and women's causes at a new historical juncture.

In the past two decades, China has acted in the spirit of the Conference, supported and led women to play their role of "holding up half the sky" in economic and social development, said Liu.

She added that China has also strengthened the making of relevant legislation and important policies, and improved its systemic mechanisms for promoting gender equality.

These moves have greatly furthered the development of women's causes, leading to remarkable achievements in women's development, the protection of rights and interests, and the progress in women's political participation, among other aspects, Liu stressed.

Liu pointed out that in the future, China will integrate the basic State policy of gender equality into every aspect of economic and social development; narrow the developmental gap among different groups; lead women to the practices of public entrepreneurship and innovation; and, strengthen the government's responsibilities in service management. Furthermore, they will gather strength from society, based on the "Four Comprehensives" national strategies—which refers to "comprehensively building a moderately prosperous society, comprehensively deepening reform, comprehensively implementing the rule of law, and comprehensively strictly govern the Party."

Shen Yueyue, vice-chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the ACWF, said in her talk that President Xi's speech at the Global Leaders' Meeting on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment has shown the direction, defined the target and put forward higher requirements for further promoting gender equality and women's overall development.

Shen encouraged women to work hard on their posts with dedication to contribute more to the realization of the "Chinese Dream" of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and the construction of a more beautiful world, under the guidance of President Xi's remarks.

Shen also urged women's federations at different levels and the relevant units to learn and understand President Xi's speech, and implement it with a combination of their own practices.

Song Xiuyan, vice-director of the NWCCW, vice-president and first member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, said in her speech that women's federations at different levels should combine President Xi's speech at the Global Leaders' Meeting with his remarks at the recent conference on mass organizations, maintain a footing in their work and takeon their responsibilities actively, to play a bigger role in promoting women's equal democratic rights in accordance with the law, women's equal participation in economic and social development, and equal sharing of the fruits of reform and development.

Wang Xiaotao, vice-director of the National Development and Reform Commission; Xin Changxing, vice-minister of the Human Resources and Social Security; XuJinrong, vice-governor of Jiangsu Province and director of Jiangsu Provincial Working Committee on Children and Women; and, Cai Zhenhong, vice-governor of Hunan Province, respectively delivered speeches on promoting gender equality, women's employment and entrepreneurship, gender assessment mechanisms, and women's political participation, combining their talks with a discussion of the realities of their work.

Shen presided over the conference. Former presidents of the ACWF Peng Peiyun, Gu Xiulian and Chen Zhili attended the meeting along with other government officials and social representatives. Also in attendance were foreign diplomats and representatives of different UN agencies in China.

(Women of China)