ACWF VP Attends Asia-Europe Conference on Women's Economic Empowerment

Tan Lin, vice-president and member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), participated in the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) Conference on Women's Economic Empowerment on May 24-26 in Vilnius, Lithuania. 

The conference, titled "Creating Equal Opportunities in the World of Work", aimed to allow ASEM partner countries to share successful policies on promoting women's economic empowerment and propose suggestions for the initiation of the ASEM Gender Dialogue.

Dalia Grybauskaitė, president of Lithuania gave a welcome speech via video. 

Tan, who led the Chinese women's delegation, gave a speech at the opening ceremony. She said ASEM is an important mechanism for fostering equal dialogue and comprehensive cooperation between Asia and Europe. 

Achieving development for women in Asia and Europe is of great importance to the economic and social progress of both two sides, as well as the development of women's causes all over the world, she commented. 

Tan said China successfully held the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation from May 14-15 in Beijing, which was the most significant meeting so far concerning the concept that President Xi Jinping first raised in 2013.

Women will play an important role in developing the initiative, said Tan. She also looks forward to strengthening communication and cooperation between women from ASEM partner countries as part of associated construction schemes, with a view to jointly promoting the growth of women in Asia and Europe and striving for development and prosperity across the globe. 

She also shared China's achievements and experiences in promoting women's development, especially in terms of the economy, at the plenary session. 

Foreign ministers and officials of women affairs from ASEM partner countries and representatives of enterprises, international organizations, as well as scholars, shared their experiences and achievements in their countries in respect to policies addressing women's economic empowerment; the economic costs of gender inequality; women's leadership; gender challenges in education; women's entrepreneurship; and, the work and life balance. 

Attendees at the conference jointly adopted the Vilnius Statement after two days of discussions. 

The Chinese women's delegation was later invited to visit the Czech Republic and had further exchange on women's development and cooperation between the two countries with the Czech deputy-minister for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation, as well as the president of the Czech Women's Federation. 

More than 120 people from over 30 ASEM partner countries, UN Women and APEC took part in the event.

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