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Although China has a higher proportion of working women than other Asia-Pacific countries, it still faces problems in women's employment, according to an expert.
Lynn Myers, project official of the UN Women China Office, said at a conference entitled International Development and Regional Women Progress — Women's Development Roundtable, that some 71 percent of Chinese women are employed, which is much higher than in member countries of the International Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development or other Asia-Pacific countries.
According to information provided by the All-China Women's Federation, China has more than 30 million women entrepreneurs, of whom 41 percent are self-employed and private entrepreneurs, accounting for 25 percent of all entrepreneurs in the country, Myers said.
The Women's Development Roundtable was held on May 24 in Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi province, aiming to further promote gender equality in China.
However, the project official said, Chinese women still face many obstacles such as a higher proportion of women in low-paying sectors, lack of channels to access funds and assets, an increasing gap in gender wages and a high risk of poverty in old age caused by unequal retirement policies.
In order to encourage equal employment opportunities and resources for women, Myers said, the UN Women China Office has established cooperative relations with many Chinese companies and top universities on a number of projects.
Mu Hong, director of the international department of the All-China Women's Federation, said the strategic concept of the Silk Road economic belt development proposed by President Xi Jinping provides new opportunities for women in the countries along the Silk Road through China, Central Asia and Europe.
Mu said her federation will work with women's organizations in other countries and international women's organizations to further promote the continuous development of gender equality.
