Source:

03-10-2006 15:25

Today is International Women's Day, and female NPC deputies and CPPCC members have celebrated in various ways.

A baby in need of care. A mother busy with work. 35-year old Bai Ping is an NPC deputy from China's southwestern province of Guizhou. Bringing her five-month old daughter to Beijing to attend the annual NPC session made Bai Ping quite special.

NPC deputy Bai Ping said: "She is too young and I still need to breast-feed her. As an NPC deputy, I don't think I can be absent from the session. I have responsibility. At the same time, I am a mother, I have to take care of my baby. So I brought her with me to Beijing."

For a woman, it's often hard to choose between family and career. But nowadays, with the increasing support and understanding from the society, it's becoming easier for women to combine the two -- rather than choose one, over the other.

Bai said: "I believe the situation has greatly improved for many women like me. We now have more chances to participate in social affairs."

As an NPC deputy, Bai Ping has long been dedicated to improving the lives of the women in rural areas.

Zhang Xiaomei is also a woman in pursuit of her goals. But International Women's day is no holiday for her. Instead, she is busy giving a lecture to CPPCC members on health and beauty.

Zhang said: "I am not here only to introduce some knowledge. I want to raise the members' awareness of the importance of developing the country's beauty industry. Members and deputies are all important figures in all trades and professions. It is important to let them know. "

Zhang is the first member to raise the issue of developing China's beauty sector. She said the industry has become a major source of job opportunities for women.

Currently, 20 percent of NPC deputies and 16 percent of CPPCC members are female. They hold equally as important positions that of men. Still, they hope that more women in the China will get a chance to participate in state affairs.

Bai Ping and Zhang Xiaomei are only two stories of many women NPC deputies and CPPCC members. All are working hard to protect women's rights and interests and improve their lives. More importantly, in other major social issues and state affairs, they are now speaking with a much louder voice and playing a more decisive role.

 

Editor:Wang Ping