Women shine at ‘Two Sessions’

BEIJING: Female lawmakers and political advisors, with record-high representation at China’s ongoing annual “two sessions,” are playing an irreplaceable role in pooling wisdom to fuel the country’s development, as China embarks on a new journey toward socialist modernization.
Official data shows that women make up 24.9 percent of national legislators at the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC) and 20.4 percent of members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country’s top political advisory body.
The figures are 1.5 and 2.6 percentage points higher than the 12th NPC and 12th CPPCC National Committee, respectively.
The greater female presence offers a glimpse into the increasingly vital role that women are playing in every aspect of Chinese society.
International Women’s Day, which falls on Monday this year, was marked with flowers, best wishes, and celebrations of the achievements of women.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday extended festive greetings to the country’s women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life, applauding their contributions to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said the joint efforts of the whole Chinese nation, including Chinese women, are needed in realizing the development goals of the Party and the state.
He urged Party committees and governments at all levels to fully understand the great significance of women’s causes and protect women’s rights and interests in accordance with the law. –Agencies