Promoting Women's Health, Longevity

In 1992, the UN announced that Beijing would host the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. As the first generation of career women in China, I, and my colleagues, were inspired, and we were determined to work hard to prepare for the conference, and to help the world form a better understanding of China. We hoped the conference would open a new chapter for Chinese women's undertakings, and we hoped foreign participants would witness the new look of China since its reform and opening up.

The China National Working Commission on Aging was in charge of the seminar on elderly women. At that time, I worked with the international department of the commission. I planned the seminar. We invited 17 experts on aging to attend the seminar. Most of the experts were women, and they spoke either English or French.

In addition to the seminar, we also organized a photo exhibition, a singing and dancing performance and an experience-exchange meeting.

After the conference concluded, we were praised by conference organizers for arranging the seminar. We also received letters of thanks from foreign participants. Though it has been 20 years, I clearly remember the scenes of the conference.

Nowadays, along with the development of medical conditions and improved living conditions, Chinese people live longer than before. China has more than 47,000 centenarians, more than 38,000 of whom are women. There are about 120 Chinese couples who are centenarians. According to the Sixth National Population Census, in 2010, Chinese people's average life span was 74.83 years, and women's average life span was 77.37 years, 4.39 years longer than that of men. Women also live longer than men in other countries. 

(Women of China)