Russian Official Gives High Praise to SCO Forum on Women

Nadezhda Boltenko talks about the first Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum on Women during a side-gathering in Beijing. [China Women's News]

A senior official from the Russian Women's Union (RWU) recently shared her insights about the success and importance of the first Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Forum on Women during a side-gathering to the event in Beijing.

Vice President of RWU Nadezhda Boltenko, who is also a member of the Federation Council Committee of Russia, gave an interview to coincide with the event hosted by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) from May 16 to 17.

The Forum drew the attendance of over 200 representatives, including participants from the SCO member states, observer states and dialogue partners, chiefs of women organizations, learned scholars, diplomats of relevant SCO countries' embassies in China, and representatives of the SCO Secretariat as well as UN agencies.

Boltenko said that the Forum was a great success since it created a new platform for all relevant countries to jointly work out solutions to their common problems whilst allowing attendees to voice their concerns and proposals.

Boltenko stressed that it should be held annually and a professional organization such as the SCO Women Summit should be established to help all countries concerned better understand and resolve existing difficulties faced between them.

Boltenko explained that women's engagement in business, science and education is of great significance to the development of their countries, adding that they are expected to bring happiness to personal households and peace to the international community through natural advantages such as patience, self-control and perseverance.

When talking about the promotion of people-to-people exchanges amongst women from Russia and China, Boltenko introduced that the RWU hosted a summit last year in Novosibirsk, which allowed Russian women and their Chinese counterparts to hold talks in business, science and education.

Moreover, all Russian federal components, which are adjacent to China, have already established their women-centered organizations and alliances to promote cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries over the past few years.

In addition, Boltenko also briefed the efforts and achievements made by her country in the protection of women and children's rights and the promotion of women's political participation as well as their career growth in other sectors.

(Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China)