CWU Opens 2016 Seminar on Leadership Skills for Female Officials from Developing Countries

China Women's University (CWU) held the opening ceremony for a 21-day seminar on leadership skills for female officials from developing countries on May 10.

The event was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China (MOFCOM) and CWU. Liu Mingzhe, vice-president of the International Business Officials' Training Institute (IBOTI); Lu Yamin, vice-minister of the International Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF); and, CWU president Liu Liqun participated in the ceremony, and delivered speeches. CWU vice-president Wang Jingxia presided over the gathering.

Liu Mingzhe expressed his heartfelt congratulations, and warmly welcomed 44 trainees from 17 countries on behalf of MOFCOM. He said that as the largest developing country in the world, China has put consolidating and strengthening friendly cooperation with developing countries as the important cornerstone of its diplomacy.

China is willing to provide assistance to the best of its ability to other developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation, as well as, Liu said. China will unswervingly pursue the road of peaceful development, combine its own development with the prosperity of all countries in the world and boost common development, he added.

The event is one of the practices to fulfill president Xi's commitment at the 2015 UN Summit on Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment. It aims to strengthen women's communications between China and other developing countries. Women can share their achievements and experience promoting gender equality, women's participation in social management, and women's empowerment in economy and politics, said officials.

Exchanges and cooperation between China and other developing countries help to promote the progress of gender equality worldwide, Liu added.

Lu pointed out that the seminar aims to implement the achievements of Global Summit of Women (GSW), and promote women's exchange and cooperation in developing countries. It is also the shared aspiration of these countries to achieve women's sustainable development. He hoped that all the trainees could improve their management abilities, and join efforts to promote social development and gender equality.

Liu Liqun warmly welcomed the trainees on behalf of CWU's teachers and students, and expressed her heartfelt thanks to ACWF and IBOTI. She said, "as a university affiliated to ACWF, and the first full-time women's university in China, CWU has many advantages in its academic mission, discipline construction, women and gender studies, and international exchanges."

Liu Liqun hoped that trainees could share each others' cultural knowledge, management experience and contribute to the development and construction of their own countries. She also hoped that the trainees could further improve their professional accomplishment and ability in promoting women's vocational development and women's participation in social development.

CWU is committed to servicing women's development and social economic development, and strives to develop female officials, she added.

Googoolye Satwantee, an officer from the Mauritius Gender Equality Department, gave a lecture on behalf of all the trainees. She thanked the Chinese government for holding the seminar, and CWU's contribution in training works. She promised to cherish the opportunity, share and obtain knowledge after the training session. 

The trainees came from Women's Federations, governments, congresses, financial departments, and foreign affairs ministries of 17 developing countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Mexico, and Zimbabwe.

(Source: China Women's University/Translated and edited by Gender Study Network)