UNITED NATIONS -- Sixteen women entrepreneurs from southeastern China's Zhejiang Province shared their success stories at a symposium titled "Empowering Rural Women and Girls" at the United Nations (UN) headquarters on Thursday.

Xia Saili, an opera singer-turned real estate developer who's today CEO of the Saili Zhenghong Group, told UN officials and peers from Latin America, the Middle East and Africa how she rose to the top of her industry. Xia also runs a non-profit private art museum in Zhejiang's capital Hangzhou.

She said she hoped the stories would encourage more women to run their own businesses and join hands with more women entrepreneurs to promote the sustainable development of the whole world.

Hong Zhang, chair of Jintai International, described how she combines tourism with local culture, creating jobs with her tourism-oriented real estate business.

Other entrepreneurs from diverse fields such as traditional Chinese medicine, motorcycle manufacturing and education also shared their experiences.

The entrepreneurs are on an exchange visit to the United Nations and the United States.