Canadian Ambassador Gives Talk about Women, Children's Issues at CWU

The 18th China Women's University Ambassadors' Forum took place on May 5.

Guy Saint-Jacques, the new Canadian ambassador to China, delivered a keynote speech on the theme of "Canada-China Cooperation: Women's and Children's Issues." Meanwhile, Feng Cui, former member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) was present at the forum, and Professor Liu Liqun, President of CWU, hosted the event.

Saint-Jacques introduced the basic national conditions of Canada and spoke about the latest development of the relationship between his country and China. In addition, Jacques also talked about the policies and measures to protect women's rights and interests adopted by the Canadian government in the perspective of gender equality, as well as the two nations' cooperation and exchanges in this field.

Furthermore, Saint-Jacques answered some questions raised by students from CWU, covering the topics of the humanistic spirit carried forward by Canadian physician Henry Norman Bethune; trends in the development of Canadian women's higher education; and the 20th anniversary of the UN 4th World Conference on Women.

Professor Liu summarized that she hoped the Embassy of Canada in China could bridge cooperation and develop further exchanges between CWU and higher education colleges or universities in Canada. She also spoke about how the forum could help inspire young people develop international perspective.

Saint-Jacques is from Quebec, Canada, and joined the Foreign Affairs Department in 1977. His posts have included London and Washington, where he served as Deputy Head of Mission. He was also director general of the Personnel Management Bureau of the Foreign Affairs Department, as well as the Canada's chief negotiator and ambassador for climate change. In October 2012, he was appointed as the new Canadian ambassador to China, and is regarded as a master of French, English and Chinese languages.

Almost 400 sophomores of different majors, including English majors, and the Foreign Affairs Office of the CWU took part in the talk.

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