Peng
Peiyun Meets Doi Takako and Her Delegation
彭PEI云会见土井多贺子一行
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the signing
of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between China
and Japan, a delegation representing Japan's Social
Democratic Party (SDP), led by Doi Takako, Member
of Japan's House of Representatives and Head of
the SDP, visited China from April 28 to 30, 2003.
On April 30, ACWF President Peng Peiyun met Takako
and the delegation, and had cordial and friendly
talks with them.
Takako was first elected Member of Japan's House
of Representatives in 1969, and then won 11 successive
elections. In 1993, Takako was elected Speaker of
the 70th House of Representatives. Her term lasted
1,131 days. She was the first, and so far only,
woman in Japan to head a political party and be
speaker of the House. In recent years, Takako has
promoted exchanges between Japanese and Chinese
women. Last year, as the major caller on behalf
of Japan, Takako led 400-plus Japanese women during
a visit to China. They participated in the "Meeting
at the Century" in Beijing, which was held
by the ACWF to commemorate the 30th anniversary
of the normalization of diplomatic relations between
China and Japan. And in February 2003, she participated
in the activities to welcome China's delegation
of women, led by Peng, to Japan.
During the meeting, Peng highly praised Takako's
efforts to enhance exchanges between Chinese and
Japanese women. Peng said the friendship between
Chinese and Japanese women was solid, so women from
both nations should develop their friendly exchanges
and cooperation. She emphasized the exchanges and
cooperation in the fields of women's participation
in political life, the environment, education and
issues related to ageing. Peng said she hoped the
expansion of exchanges could enable women from both
nations to make more friends, especially young friends.
Takako said last year's "Meeting at the Century"
in Beijing was a significant event, which made a
strong call for peace. In the 21st century, women
from both nations should strengthen exchanges in
social security, welfare, employment and education,
because women could play a role in holding up half
the sky. Takako also expressed concern about the
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) outbreak
gripping China. She said she believed Chinese, led
by the government, would defeat SARS. She vowed
to report back to her government about what she
saw in China, and to urge her government to provide
more aid to China. Tomon Mitsuko, Member of Japan's
House of Representatives and Deputy Head of the
SDP, said SARS was not only China's enemy, but was
the world's enemy. The international community,
she said, should work together to fight SARS.
Peng expressed gratitude for the delegation's visit
and its members' concerns, during the SARS outbreak.
Peng gave the delegation a detailed introduction
of China's efforts to eradicate the disease. She
also called for further cooperation with the international
community to ensure the disease is stamped out.
Zhao Shaohua, Member of ACWF's Secretariat, participated
in the meeting.
Cap. 1
Peng Peiyun meets Doi Takako in the Diaoyutai State
Guesthouse
Romanian Premier's Wife Is a Guest at ACWF
罗马尼亚总理夫人拜会全国妇联
On May 14, 2003, in the Great Hall of the People,
Gu Xiulian, Vice-Chairperson of the NPC Standing
Committee and ACWF Vice-President, met Daniela
Nastase, wife of Romania's premier, during her
visit to China.
During the meeting, Nastase said, through Romanian
media, she knew the Chinese Government and people
had adopted positive and effective measures to
fight SARS. Having come to China with her husband
many times, Nastase said the main purpose of her
latest visit was to express to the Chinese Government
and people that the Romanian Government and people
supported and stood beside China.
Gu warmly welcomed and thanked Nastase, who visited
Beijing with her husband despite the SARS outbreak.
Gu said she believed Nastase's visit would enhance
the development of relations between the nations'
women and women's organizations.
An exchange about the relevant situation of Chinese
women and Romanian women was also held. Zhao Shaohua,
Member of ACWF's Secretariat, and the wife of
Romania's ambassador to China attended the meeting.
Cap. 2
Gu Xiulian meets Daniela Nastase in the Great
Hall of the People
A Delegation Visits Cyprus, Tunisia and Comoros
中国妇女代表团访问塞浦路斯、突尼斯和科摩罗
From March 24 to April 10, 2003, at the invitation
of Cyprus' National Machinery for Women Rights,
the Ministry of Women, Family and Children Affairs
of Tunisia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Comoros and the Comoros National Women's Development
Network, ACWF Vice-President Shen Shuji led a
delegation of Chinese women during visits to the
three countries.
The president of Cyprus, Mr. Papadoloulos, and
the president of Comoros, Mr. Azali Assoumani
and his wife, as well as the vice-president of
Comoros, met the delegation. The delegation also
met some parliamentary presidents, ministers,
women leaders and dignitaries from the three countries.
In Cyprus, the delegation, accompanied by representatives
of various women's organizations, visited six
cities. They learned firsthand about several programs
regarding women, and met mayors and representatives
of local women's organizations.
In Tunisia, the delegation met the minister of
Women, the general coordinator of the Tunisia
Solidarity Fund and the director of the Tunisia
Solidarity Bank respectively. The delegation also
visited the Tunisia National Women's Union, the
Tunisia Mothers Association, the Center for Studies,
Materials and Information on Women, the National
Children's Computer Training Center, the Women's
Shelter and the Disabled Children's Activity Center.
In Comoros, the Comoros National Women's Development
Network called for more than 10 women's organizations
to send representatives to join the working talks
with the delegation. The delegation visited rural
grass-roots women, and learned firsthand of the
local agricultural and folk-custom programs.
Shen presented a gift letter to the Secretary-General
of Comoros' government. The letter indicated the
All-China Women's Federation planned to donate
sewing equipments to Comoros' women this year.
Cap. 4
The president of Cyprus, Mr. Papadoloulos (M)
meets the delegation
Cap. 3
The wife of the president of Comoros meets the
delegation
A Delegation Visits France
中国妇女代表团访问法国
At the invitation of the French Women's Rights
and Equality Service, a three-member Chinese women's
delegation, led by Zhao Shaohua, Member of ACWF's
Secretariat, visited France from March 21 to 28,
2003. It was the first time since the mid-1980s
that a French women's department invited a Chinese
women's delegation to visit the country. Last
year, the director of the French Women's Rights
and Equality Service visited China. The reciprocal
visits marked the further strengthening of exchanges
between the ACWF and French women's agencies.
Nicole Amelire, Ministerial Representative of
the Ministry of Social Affairs, Labor and Solidarity,
met the delegation. Brigitte Grésy, Director of
the French Women's Rights and Equality Service,
presided over the working meeting and hosted the
delegation. The delegation also met the leading
members of the Women 3000 Association and the
Women United Organization. They exchanged working
information with some local representatives in
charge of equality affairs. They visited the reemployment
center, job training enterprise, reception center
for abused women and women's shelter. They also
visited Lille in North France.
On March 21 and 22, the delegation took part in
the First Chinese Women's Day, launched by the
ACWF and the Quimper Municipal Government, conducted
by China Women's Development Foundation. Activities
included seminars, a photo exhibition on China,
a handicrafts exhibition and films. The opening
ceremony of the First Chinese Women's Day and
the photo exhibition were held in the municipal
hall. The mayor of Quimper and Zhao spoke and
cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony. Several
other officials from the French side and nearly
90 Chinese women from Liaoning, Jiangsu, Hebei
and Guizhou took part in the activities. Four
vice-presidents of Finistère's Parliament met
the delegation. French officials showed great
interest in and passion for China.
This visit received attention from many local
media. The delegation was interviewed by media,
including the France Quest, with the best circulation
in France, Voice of North, North Edair and Bretage
Television Station.
The year 2004 is the 40th anniversary of the establishment
of diplomatic relations between China and France,
and also the China-France Culture Year. Supported
by Wu Jianmin, China's ambassador to France, the
delegation discussed the possibility of launching
China's Cultural Week for Women next year in France
by cooperating with official agencies and women's
organizations in France.
A Delegation Visits Libya
中国妇女代表团访问利比亚
At the invitation of Dr. Salma Abdel Jabar, Secretary
of Social Affairs of the Libyan General People's
Congress, a Chinese women's delegation, led by
Zhao Shaohua, Member of ACWF's Secretariat, paid
a visit to Libya from March 29 to April 2, 2003.
Colonel Moammar Khadafy, the leader of the Great
Alfathen Revolution, extended a warm welcome to
the delegation in a meeting and praised Chinese
women for their active involvement in various
fields. He also stressed the "One China"
principle, and wished China an early unification.
He said he believed the visit of the delegation
would greatly push forward the bilateral relationship.
During their visit, the delegation visited Col.
Khadafy's bombarded residence, the local rehabilitation
center for disabled persons, the "Great Green
Charter" Study Center, the Women's Police
Officer College, the Security Bureau of Andalus
District, and a local kindergarten.
At the Women's Police Officer College, 200 students
in neat formation welcomed the delegation at their
drill ground. Their band played music--including
a tune of welcome and Libya's national anthem--for
the guests.
When the delegation visited the Province of Shaabiat
Almirqb, the secretary of the Provincial People's
Congress, Omar said, proudly, that he had studied
at Tsinghua University, so he thought he was half
Chinese. He invited the delegation to attend a
meeting of the Provincial People's Congress and
invited Zhao to speak to congress. No other foreign
delegation had been invited to attend such a meeting
before. Other delegations have been allowed to
watch from the gallery.
Nulia, secretary of social affairs of the Provincial
People's Congress of the Province of Shaabiat
Benghazi, compared the reception given to the
Chinese to that accorded a head of state. "Only
in this way, could we express our love for China,"
she said.
Informal discussions and public speeches by members
of the delegation introduced China and Chinese
women to the Libyans, and conveyed the spirit
of friendship to the North African country.
Cap. 5
Col. Khadafy (M) meets the delegation
Sino-German Joint Efforts Help Western Rural
Women
中德合作帮助西部农村妇女脱贫致富
To contribute some efforts to China's western
development, and help western women leave behind
poverty, the ACWF cooperated with German-Based
Hanns-Seidel Foundation to launch a micro-credit
project for rural women in Qinghai Province. On
March 21, 2003, the two sides signed an agreement
with the Qinghai Women's Federation.
According to the agreement, Hanns-Seidel Foundation
and local women's federations will invest 59,750
yuan to provide the training and development loans
for women from 25 Hui families of Taizhuang Village,
Datong County. This one-year project is aimed
at helping these rural women to change their old
concepts and old plants-growing structure, to
learn practical technologies, and to be aware
of market and commodity knowledge. As a result,
these women are expected to increase their incomes,
and at the same time, guide other women around
them to shake off poverty.
From April 4 to 8, women from the 25 families
participated in an agricultural training. On April
25, each of the families received a 2,000-yuan
loan. They started productions like raising sheep
and cows or planting rape. It is estimated the
project will help each family generate a 700-yuan
income per year.
"Knowledge and Capacity for Western Women"
Project Goes
"赋予西部妇女知识和能力"项目进展顺利
The Project "Knowledge and Capacity for Western
Women," sponsored jointly by the ACWF and
the World Bank, is under way in Gansu and Shaanxi.
From March 24 to 26, an inspection group led by
Zhang Jing, director of ACWF's International Liaison
Department, went to Yintai District of Tongchuan
City and Qianyang County of Baoji City to inspect
and evaluate the project's implementation.
The project has been proceeding smoothly. Local
impoverished women--the beneficiaries of the project--expressed
their heart-felt welcome for the project. They
said, with the project's support, they not only
increased their incomes, but also improved their
own abilities. They felt more willing to participate
in local social and political life. One of the
beneficiaries was even selected a deputy to the
county-level people's congress, due to her outstanding
performance.
Contents of the project's income-increasing component
were drafted based on the opinions of agricultural
experts and local people. In this way, not only
were the technology contents enriched, factors
concerning local environmental protection received
attention.
Cap.6
The Shaanxi Women's Federation has organized local
impoverished women to learn how to make folk handicrafts
since the project's implementation
Legacy of Learning Project Achieves Results in
Inner Mongolia
内蒙古女童实用技术培训班项目取得成效
Ever since its launch in September 2001, the Legacy
of Learning Project, jointly launched by the ACWF
and Soroptimist International, has achieved remarkable
results--about 300 impoverished girls have returned
to school. With the further help of the project,
the girls will finish their three-year junior
high school education and at the same time receive
training on practical techniques.
Local governments, women's federations and schools
attach great importance to the project, and offer
valuable support. Local schools provide the girls
with classrooms and dormitories and arrange the
best teachers to take care of their studies and
daily lives. Meanwhile, nine training facilities
were built to meet their study needs--including
a greenhouse for growing vegetables and flowers,
a sty, a cowshed and a forage base.
In May 2002, Soroptimist International sent a
team to Inner Mongolia to inspect the implementation
of the project. The team had close talks with
the girls, and provided lectures on AIDs prevention.
The fund of Soroptimist International came from
its donation day for president's project in 2000,
when Dr. Jane Zimmerman was the president. The
three-year project will end in September 2004.
A Brief on Friendly Exchanges
(From April to June, 2003)
国际交流信息
（2003年4月至6月）
* The Fifth Country Program Cycle between the
UNFPA and the Chinese Government has been signed
and started. The two-and-a-half-year program (from
May 2003 to 2005) is comprised of six subprojects
and will cover 31 counties in 31 provinces throughout
China.
The ACWF will be responsible for implementing
one of the six subprojects--the Gender Project.
Its complete title is: "Promotion of Gender
Equality through Sensitization and Awareness Raising."
It aims to promote gender equality through improving
women's ability in getting information, education,
services in reproductive health and family planning.
* From April 13 to 20, the Chinese Women's Group
conducted a study tour of Japan.
The tour was part of the cooperative training
program between the ACWF and the Ford Foundation.
The group was composed of directors, deputy directors
and organization department directors from women's
federations in 10 provinces, municipalities and
autonomous regions.
* An agreement on the second term of the ACWF-ILO
Mekong Sub-Regional Project to Combat Trafficking
in Women and Children was formally signed this
May.
The first term of the project focused on Yunnan
for three years, and officials accumulated plenty
of precious experience from the interference measures--such
as ability cultivation, awareness improvement
and direct aid.
To further promote these excellent measures and
to explore new ways, the five-year second term
will be devoted to improving the state-level policies
and ability construction, and to promoting beneficial
experience in other provinces.
* The ACWF and UNICEF's Project to Combat Trafficking
and Violence Against Children and Women developed
the Anti-Trafficking Logo (see the picture) to
be used in various publicity materials.
The logo has two pigeons, one blue and one white,
to symbolize the two hands, one big and the other
small, of the disadvantaged group--the abducted
and trafficked women and children. The hands are
extended, as if reaching out for help. The two
overlapped hands are also reaching to the blue
sky, to express the victims' expectation for new
lives and freedom.
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