China to open 11th National Women's Congress

BEIJING - The 11th National Women's Congress will open on October 28 in Beijing, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) said Tuesday.

The congress will deliberate and approve a work report by the 10th Executive Council of the ACWF, amend the federation's constitution and elect its new executive council members, according to a statement by the ACWF.

The ACWF said the congress will also summarize progress made by Chinese women in boosting social and economic development over the past five years and draw a blueprint for the development of Chinese women in the next five years.

A total of 1,510 formal delegates and 156 specially invited delegates will attend the congress. The number represents an increase of 230 people more than the number of delegates at the last congress held in 2008.

The proportion of delegates from the front line of production and work has increased 13.2 percent compared with that of the last congress. The number of delegates with master or doctorate degrees has gone up by 12.2 percent.

Among the 1,510 delegates, 52 from Hong Kong and 22 from Macao have been invited as special delegates to the congress. Each of China's 55 ethnic minorities has at least one delegate to the congress.