5 Outstanding Women Share Thoughts, Feelings During Live-streaming Talk

Fan Jinshi (R2), Zhang Yuejiao (R3), Wang Xiaoyun (L3), Liu Yang (L2), and Huang Xiaowei (L1) attend the live-streaming interview on December 18. [Women Voice]

The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) held a live-streaming talk titled "Reform and Opening-up, the Power of Women" with the website People's Daily Online on December 18 in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the country's reform and opening-up drive.

During the event, five influential guests shared their thoughts and feelings with audiences regarding their studies of President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the national conference marking the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up.

Addressing the meeting, Xi, also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and chairman of the Central Military Commission, described reform and opening-up as "a great reawakening" of the Party.

Moreover, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council jointly awarded medals to 100 Chinese reform pioneers at the conference, and honored 10 foreigners with China Reform Friendship medals during the occasion.

The speakers at the live-streaming event were Fan Jinshi, Zhang Yuejiao, Wang Xiaoyun, Liu Yang, and Huang Xiaowei, They also spoke on the important roles and contributions made by women to the prominent progress of reform and opening-up.

At the beginning of the interview, organizers broadcast a two-minute short video featuring an introduction to the life stories of 11 women who were as awarded the reform pioneers medals.

Among them, Fan is honorary president of Dunhuang Academy in northwest China's Gansu Province and has devoted herself to the preservation and research of Mogao Grottos for over five decades.

She said the country has witnessed a "glorious transformation" over the past four decades and that the reform and opening-up initiative has provided the protection of cultural relics with great development opportunities.

Fan explained her deep love of the Mogao Grottos and said she cannot live without them. She added that many women have devoted their wisdom and strength to the protection, research and promotion of Dunhuang culture.

Meanwhile, Zhang was an independent arbitrator at the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes at the World Bank. She is also the first Chinese justice of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

She said she listened to Xi's speech with tears in her eyes at the gathering and felt pride of both the country and the Party.

Zhang said China's reform and opening-up drive has not yet been completed and said Chinese women are expected to play a larger role in the international stage in the future.

Wang is an expert in cryptology from the Chinese Academy of Sciences. She said reform and opening-up has brought a valuable opportunity to her and many other scientists.

Wang emphasized that as a homegrown researcher, she will carry forward the traditions to better serve national development.

Liu is China's first female astronaut to go into space. She was born in 1978, the same year that China officially introduced its reform and opening-up policy. She said the dream of every person is closely intertwined with the times.

Liu explained technological progress and national development enabled her dream to be an astronaut. She explained that she will never forget her original aspirations and hopes to enter into the space again on behalf of the nation and her female compatriots.

Huang, vice-president and first member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, said Xi's speech expounded the significance of the reform and opening-up, summed up the achievements made by the country in 10 aspects, stated nine valuable experiences gained in the process, and demonstrated a greater resolve to carry forward the policy.

Huang explained that the firm leadership of the CPC is the key and crucial to the success of China's reform and opening-up, and continued that Xi is the practical leader of reform and opening-up in the new era.

In the past four decades, the CPC has viewed the work of women's development as an important component of the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics; integrated the work on women's affairs into the Party's overall work on the public; and attached great importance to the basic State policy of gender equality.

The Party has also conducted the reform of women's federations under the framework the country's campaign to comprehensively deepen reform and that of mass organizations; adhered to the socialist path with Chinese characteristics for women's development; made important achievements; and, created the wonders of China in the history of the international women's movement.

The CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core has, since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, paid much attention to the development of women, come up with guiding principles and major tasks, and opened a new chapter for the work of women's development in the new era.

When asked about the achievements and contributions made by Chinese women over the past four decades, Huang spoke about the inspiring stories of several more role models such as Yu Liufen, Zheng Yanping and Zhang Huamei at their workplaces.

According to Huang, the millions of women across the country have been hugely relevant in economic and political affairs and their education has reached an unprecedented level. In addition, they have demonstrated a positive image featuring patriotism, loyalty to the Party, continuous self-improvement, pioneering and innovation with self-confidence and an open mind.

Huang urged officials from women's federations nationwide to strictly study and act on the spirit of Xi's speech; strengthen their political and ideological guidance of women; mobilize and lead females to firmly follow the call of the Party; and, encourage women to connect the pursuit of personal dream with the development of the Party's and nation's causes.

Furthermore, officials should find suitable points to better serve women; encourage females to strive for higher achievements in featured activities; promote core socialist values amongst millions of households; and, safeguard the rights and interests of women and children.

Women's federations should also advance the implementation of national policy of gender equality; bring more tangible benefits to women and children; carry forward organizational reform; strengthen their political consciousness, become more advanced and better represent the people; and, improve working styles and the competence.

According to organizers, over 7.7 million people watched the interview. The event was streamed on the websites and social media accounts including People's Daily Online, Womenvoice.cn and Clady.cn, as well as on the short video app Kuaishou.

Huang Xiaowei [Women Voice]

Wang Xiaoyun [Women Voice]

Liu Yang [Women Voice]

Fan Jinshi [Women Voice]

Zhang Yuejiao [Women Voice]

The five invited guests [Women Voice]

(Source: China Women's News / Translated and edited by Women of China)