The Opening Ceremony of China-US Conference on Women's Issues

American Participants visited the Beijing Primary School

With the joint efforts from the All-China Women's Federation and the American Global Interactions, the China-U.S. Conference on Women's Issues was held successfully from Oct. 21-24 in Haoyuan Jianguo Garden Hotel, Beijing, China. More than 40 participants from 14 states across the United States and representative of American Embassy with 60 Chinese participants from colleges, research institutes, government agencies and NGOs in Beijing attended the conference. It focused on the issues of common concerns ranging from women in development, women & violence, women & environment to aging, longevity & active retirement. The Conference consisted of plenary sessions for keynote speakers and featured speakers, group discussions and site visits.

Gu Xiulian, Vice President & First Member of Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation, attended the conference and delivered greeted at the opening ceremony. She also delivered a keynote speech titled"Chinese Women's participation in Development"and expatiated the major achievements and experiences Chinese women madw in the last decade in the field of political, economic and cultural development. She pointed out that women's participation in economic and social development is an important way to promote women's own improvement and development.

The participants had a hot discussion on the four main topics. Both sides introduced the great efforts and strategies taken in their countries to promote the equality between men and women. The Chinese participants
Also introduced China's legal system of guardianship on women's rights, interests and gender-equality.

In the session of Women in Development, American delegates encouraged the participants to be more optimistic, energetic and to discover their passions and dreams in their lives. The participants also discussed the training method and how to use micro-credit on illiteracy and poverty elimination.

In Women and Environment session, participants pointed out that women should actively participate in environment protection before it was too late and women in China and U.S. should work together on this important issue. An American participant said that as the largest producer and user of automobile, the United States should be most responsible for the energy consuming and environment pollution. But, up to now, the U.S. Government hasn't ratified the Kyoto Accord. NGOs of the United States should actively push the government to ratify the Accord as soon as possible.

In the Longevity and Actively Retirement session, participants appealed the whole society to pay more attention on the issues of elderly women's health care, further education, poverty and their participation in social and community activities.

Ms. Guo Junqin, an outstanding women entrepreneur in Beijing won the Athena Award and delivered a speech on the meeting. She was the first Athena Recipient in China given by the Athena Foundation of the United States and was recommended by the All-China Women's Federation.

The China-US Conference on Women's Issues was a great success and a stage for women from China and America, who came from difference regions, with different background, sat together, facing the challenges they have in common, sharing the experiences and building up friendships.