2014 APEC Women and the Economy Forum Concludes in Beijing

Song Xiuyan, Vice Chairperson of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, Vice President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), offers closing remarks at the closing ceremony of the 2014 APEC Women and the Economy Forum on May 23, 2014. [Women of China/Fan Wenjun]

The 2014 APEC Women and the Economy Forum concluded in Beijing on May 23, 2014.

Song Xiuyan, Vice Chairperson of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council, and Vice President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), offered closing remarks at the closing ceremony.

More than 300 people from political, economic and academic circles of the APEC economies exchanged opinions and reached fresh agreements on three major topics, including Women and Green Development, Women and Regional Trade and Economic Cooperation, and Policy Support and Women's Economic Empowerment, said Song.

Song pointed out that, through extensive and in-depth discussions, participants agreed that green development is a strategic choice to realize the goal of "balanced, inclusive, sustainable and innovative development," and that women, as an important driver of the economic development in the Asia Pacific region, play an indispensable role in realizing green development.

Women's development should be integrated into the strategy of sustainable development and the development plan of ecological civilization construction in the APEC economies, said Song.

Accordingly, efforts should be made to widen the channel of women's participation in economic transformation and reform and to promote women's participation in cooperative regional environmental-protection technologies and new economies, added Song.

Song went on to say that the APEC economies have further recognized that women's economic empowerment is of great significance to promote business performance and economic prosperity and women's economic cooperation, as an inherent part of regional economic cooperation, can offer unique contributions to the economic development of the Asia-Pacific region..

The APEC economies should continue to effectively share successful experiences and innovative practices in promoting women's participation in regional trade and economic cooperation, and push for exchange and cooperation between the public and private sectors, and between female entrepreneurs, stated Song.

Based on the recognition that policy support is an important guarantee of women's economic empowerment, the APEC economies shared their polices and achievements in women's economic empowerment and urged all in attendance to listen to more closely women's voices, further enhance gender mainstreaming capacity, vigorously promote gender equality and institutionally create more opportunities for women to equally participate in and benefit from economic development, said Song.

Song emphasized that the Statement of the 2014 APEC Women and the Economy Forum was approved at the forum. The Statement reiterates that concrete actions should be taken to promote women's economic participation and empowerment, more efforts should be made to intensify gender perspectives, strengthen capability construction, eliminate gender discrimination and enhance women's decision participation and cooperation, and proposals have been made to increase understanding, expanding consensus, deepen friendship and strengthen cooperation among women from the APEC economies.

Song affirmed that economic development is only realized with efforts from both men and women. Women make a great force. Men and women should work hand in hand to advance the economic and social promotion of women, which is a common wish and pursuit among all attendees.

Only when women equally participate in and enjoy the results of economic development, the harmonious development of the economy and society, then women's genuine liberation and independence can be realized, which is a common issue for all APEC economies and requires close cooperation, experience sharing and common progress, said Song.

It's believed that the 2014 APEC Women and the Economy Forum will have a proactive and far-reaching influence in promoting APEC women's friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation and in getting women to contribute more to regional economic matters.

As the outcome document of the 2014 APEC Women and the Economy Forum, the Statement will be submitted to the Informal APEC Economic Leaders' Meetings.

Vice President and Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF Meng Xiaosi presided over the closing ceremony.