Song Xiuyan Discusses Women and Children's Affairs with Pol

, vice-president and first member of the Secretariat of the (ACWF), joined a panel discussion with political advisors from the nationwide women's federations at the first session of the (CPPCC) in Beijing on March 6.

CPPCC member and President of Inner Mongolia Women's Federation Huda Gula said that the highlights about the protection of women and children's lawful rights and interests and efforts to improve their living standards mentioned by Premier Li Keqiang in his government work report at the opening of the first session of the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) fully demonstrated the value the central government gives to their affairs.

She continued that, "We should step up our efforts in the establishment of an appraisal system for the integration of gender equality perspective into laws and administrative regulations at the national level, and strive for the protection of women's legal rights and interests at source in light of the progress of relevant work over the past few years. Meanwhile, we expect to press ahead with free cancer screening schemes in the future since breast and cervical cancers still pose a huge threat to women's health."

CPPCC member Xu Xiaolan, who is vice-chairperson and secretary-general of the Chinese Institute of Electronics (CIE), disclosed that China ranks first across the world in terms of the number of female technicians and their percentage of the total population.

She proposed to fully tap the potential of female intellectuals and set up women-centered or female technician-centered forums on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, G20 summit and other high-level meetings, to improve their capabilities in international exchanges and inspire them to make more contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

Another CPPCC member Huang Xiqin, who is chairperson of the Guangdong New Social Stratum Association (GNSSA), called for the public to devote more attention and care to women from private enterprises, foreign firms, social organizations and news media, and rally more support from them for social and economic development in the new era.

After listening to their proposals, Song noted that the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), with Comrade at its core, has highly prioritized the development of women's affairs, written the observance of gender equality and protection of women and children's lawful rights and interests into his report at the 19th CPC National Congress, integrated the promotion of gender equality and women's all-round growth into the implementation of the five-sphere integrated plan and the four-pronged comprehensive strategy, and taken into consideration the aggregate differences between women and men and women's special needs in the process of making laws, policies, plans and work arrangements.

In addition, the CPC Central Committee has pressed ahead, further advancing women's affairs, elevating the level of their growth and better safeguarding their legal rights and interests.

For instance, the proportions of female legislators and political advisors at the ongoing annual "two sessions" have hit a record high, reaching 24.9 percent and 20.4 percent, up by 1.5 percent and 2.6 percent respectively compared with five years ago.

Song emphasized that CPPCC members from women's federations should assume their responsibilities in voicing demands of millions of women across the country and helping them solve problems and difficulties whilst fulfilling due political duties on their behalf at the annual meeting of the top political advisory body.

In conclusion, Song urged them to closely follow the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress and other latest plenary sessions of the CPC Central Committee, strengthen their consciousness of the need to maintain political integrity, think in big-picture terms, and uphold the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, with Xi at its core, in their daily work.

Moreover, they are expected to further increase their awareness of gender equality, pay more attention to the development of women's affairs, work together with women's federations at all levels to better protect their legal rights and interests, and jointly build an environment conducive to their sustainable growth and the constant improvement of their living standards through political participation.

Those in attendance at the panel discussion included senior officials from the ministries of justice, civil affairs, health and family planning, and other central authorities.

()