President Hu: Gender equality crucial
By Wang Ying (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-08-30 06:14
Participants at a ceremony commemorating the 10th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing agreed yesterday that greater efforts should be made to achieve gender equality and heightened civilization.
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President Hu Jintao speaks at the opening ceremony of a meeting commemorating the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, capital of China, August 29, 2005. [Xinhua] |
The "Beijing Plus 10" commemoration focused on the theme of "promoting gender equality for common development," aiming to carry forward the spirit of the Fourth World Conference on Women.
An important milestone in the history of the global women's movement, the Fourth World Conference on Women went a long way towards promoting social justice and social undertakings in countries all over the world, said President Hu Jintao.
"The significance of the conference has since been made more and more evident by the advances of women's development cause worldwide," Hu said yesterday at the commemoration, which has attracted roughly 500 people from more than 80 countries.
"Women are a great source of strength in creating human civilization," Hu said. "The promotion of gender equality and protection of women's rights impact on the immediate interests of women and decide whether human beings can fully develop their potential and pursue a better life."
Hu's remarks were echoed by Khalid Malik, the UN resident co-ordinator in China, who said he believed that gender equality is a key factor in eliminating poverty, improving education and health, and achieving sustainable development.
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