The ASEAN-China Women Entrepreneurs' Dialogue on "Joining Hands for Women's Economic Empowerment," a parallel event of the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN-China Year of People-to-People Exchanges, kicked off in Fuzhou, capital of Southeast China's Fujian Province, on February 2. More than 70 participants, including women entrepreneurs, government officials and representatives of relevant organizations, from China and ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, attended.

Women entrepreneurs, based on their personal experiences, had in-depth exchanges and experience-sharing on the advancement of women's equal participation in employment, entrepreneurship and innovation, as well as strengthening pragmatic cooperation in scientific and technological innovation, the digital economy and green development. The ASEAN-China Women Entrepreneurs' Network was launched during the event.

Participants from ASEAN countries and China agreed the dialogue provided a new platform for advancing women's exchanges and mutual learning and promoting women's economic empowerment and all-round development among ASEAN countries and China. They expressed their will to take the dialogue as an opportunity to enhance friendship, mutual trust and convergence of interests, to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, and make greater contribution to the development of the China-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Lin Yi, Vice-President and Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), Lin Ruiliang, Vice-Governor of Fujian Provincial People's Government, Adonis Porto Sulit, Under Secretary for Policy and Plans from the Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Philippines, Kry Nallis, Secretary of State from the Ministry of Women's Affairs of Cambodia, and Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community, attended and addressed at the event. Datuk Dr. Maziah Binti Che Yusoff, Cum Chair of ASEAN Committee on Women, delivered a speech via video link.

The dialogue was hosted by the ACWF and co-organized by Fujian Women's Federation, the China Association of Women Entrepreneurs, and the China Women's Chamber of Commerce. It was part of the series of events launched by the ACWF to highlight the theme "Pool Women's Strength for Belt and Road Cooperation."

(Source: Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation)