CRI听力:China Makes Great Progress in Gender Equality, Women's Development

The white paper is published ahead of the global women summit set on September 27th at the UN headquarters in New York, at which Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a speech.

Hu Kaihong, spokesman for the State Council Information Office, presided over the press conference Tuesday morning and introduced the white paper on gender equality.

"The white paper expounds the relevant policies and proposals, which help the international community promote their understanding about China, push the gender equality and women's development, and enhance China's dialogue, communication and cooperation with the world."

The white paper says China has always upheld the constitutional principle of equality between men and women, which is also a basic state policy for promoting progress in the country and in society.

Chinese women make up one fifth of the world's total female population. Over the years China has improved its laws and regulations, developed public policies, and worked out development plans to improve the country's gender equality and women's development.

Song Xiuyan is the deputy director of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council.

"China completes the legal system on protecting women's legitimate rights, promotes the gender equality in the law system, thoroughly implements the basic state policy of gender equality, and pushes the process of social gender mainstreaming."

The white paper also says China has made progress in many aspects to improve gender equality, including setting up a mature national mechanism and improving government organs for promoting the status of women, creating a social and cultural environment conducive to boosting gender equality, promoting equality in education, and accelerating the building of a socialist country under the rule of law.

Song says the country has made great efforts to ensure women's equal participation in economic activities and equitable access to economic resources.

"China pushes the coordinated development of women and economic society. China's gender equality and women's development have seen remarkable achievements with women's rights for equal job opportunities guaranteed. Women accounted for 45 percent in total employed population in 2013."

The white paper is also published to mark the 20th anniversary of the UN's Fourth World Conference on Women that was held in Beijing back in 1995.

For CRI, I'm Niu Honglin.