Society
Conference Special: Shoes from Shanxi: Worthy gifts at women's forum
By Wang Ke (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-29 07:54
 |
Large Medium Small |
|
Representatives from China and South Korea at the Sino-Korean Elite Women's Forum. |
Women from government, business and academia in China and South Korea discussed female education and policies affecting women at the seventh Sino-Korean Elite Women's Forum, held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday.
The forum was organized by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and the 21st Century South Korea-China Exchange Association.
Nam Sung Hee, president of Daegu Health College and Liu Ying, vice chairwoman of Beijing Municipal Women's Federation, chaired the forums.
Distinguished guests delivered speeches, including Bae-Yong Lee, president of Ewha Woman's University and the Korean Council for Presidents of Private Universities, Zhang Lixi, president of China Women's University, Jiang Yongping, director of the policies and regulations office of the China Women's Federation Research Institute and Kim Tae Hyun, president of South Korea's Female Policy Institute.
The first Forum convened in 2004. It has since been alternately held in China and South Korea each year.
Mary Kay, a US-based cosmetics company with branches in many countries including China and South Korea, was the exclusive sponsor for the forum's welcome dinner on Monday. Zhang Meiying, vice chairwoman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultation Conference, addressed the welcome dinner.
On behalf of Mary Kay, Zhang Jing, senior external affairs director of Mary Kay (China) and Helen Kim, marketing director of Mary Kay (Korea) attended the welcome dinner.
"Mary Kay aims to enrich women's lives with its global vision of providing fair, just and transparent career opportunities, helping them to get economic independence and to help change lives through its welfare projects" Zhang Jing said.
"The elite forum provides a platform of exchange and mutual learning for the women of China and South Korea, and also serves as a frame of reference for governments in making women-related policies. Undoubtedly it will change the fate of more women," she said.
Meaningful gifts
During the forum, Mary Kay presented traditional hand-embroidered Chinese shoes to the guests as a souvenir.
These shoes are made by a small company in Shanxi province, which was financially supported by Mary Kay.
With the support from Mary Kay Small Business Fund program, several impoverished women in Shanxi established the hand-embroidered shoes company. The company helps a number of local women increase their incomes through making shoes in their spare time.
Zhang Meiying said: "These embroidered shoes embody the wisdom and the sweat of these women in Shanxi, and their desire for a better life."
(China Daily 04/29/2010 page5)
