Shaanxi Women's Delegation Visits Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

Gong Xiaoyan signs a letter of intent with the Dungan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan on the establishment of the Silk Road Women's Home. [Women of China]

Gong Xiaoyan, president of the Shaanxi Women's Federation (SWF), in northwest China, led a delegation of over 10 people to two Central Asian countries for friendly exchanges with local people from October 12-19, 2016. The delegation was the first of its kind for SWF and the members included representatives from women's federations, enterprises and educational institutions.

In Uzbekistan, the delegation visited a photo exhibition of multi-ethnic cultures at the National Center for Ethnic Culture and held a symposium on the theme Silk Road at Fingertips.

Gong said that ethnic groups in Uzbekistan has harmonious relations and the country has great potential for development. She hoped that the cultural center could work together with Shaanxi to exchange and cooperate with women along the Silk Road to promote economic development along the Silk Road.

The head of the center expressed the hope of having the opportunity to further exchange with women in Shaanxi about their experience in protecting and developing women's handicrafts culture.

In the largest "Shaanxi Village" in Kazakhstan, in Jiangbul State, the Shaanxi delegation hosted "My Hometown at the Starting Point of the Silk Road" — Shaanxi Women's Photography Exhibition, which was popular with locals.

At the meeting with the Dungan Association, Gong said that by showing the beauty and development of Shaanxi to everyone through pictures, the delegation hoped that Dungan women will understand Shaanxi better. Dungan is an ethnic minority of Chinese origin living in Central Asian countries.

In the Almaty State of Kazakhstan, the "Silk Road on Fingertips" — Women's Cultural Inheritance and Innovation Symposium, the two sides agreed to cooperate in relevant areas.

Gong said that Shaanxi Women's Federation should learn from the experience of Kazakhstan's Dungan people in the fields of gender equality, women's entrepreneurship and employment, and attach importance to ethnic unity and family education.

It is hoped that the two sides will jointly build the "Silk Road Women's Home" and promote women's development along the Silk Road.

The delegation visited villages and markets, collected and reserved a large number of pictures and videos of Dungan folklore, watched a Dungan folk music performance, and learned how Dungan people inherit their family traditions, rules and ethnic culture.

They also participated in a traditional wedding ceremony of Dungan people, and presented the bride and groom with peony pictures, cakes, an embroidered bridal veil, embroidered shoes, paper-cut wedding invitations and other gifts.

The friendly exchange not only publicized President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road initiative (BRI) ideas, but also demonstrated the progress of Shaanxi's implementation of the BRI.

In accordance with the requirements of the All-China Women's Federation on Belt and Road construction, Shaanxi Women's Federation has carried out the work of promoting exchanges among people with countries along the route. 

During the visit, Gong signed a memorandum of friendly exchanges and cooperation with the two Dungan people's organizations of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan on behalf of Shaanxi Women's Federation.

Moreover, the delegation signed a letter of intent with the Dungan Cultural Center in Uzbekistan on the establishment of the Silk Road Women's Home, established the Silk Road Women's Home in Almaty with the Dungan Association of Kazakhstan.

Delegates from Shaanxi and heads of the Kazakhstan National Center for Ethnic Culture pose for a photo. [Women of China]

(Women of China)