China's most dynamic metropolis is increasingly being run by women. Over 40 percent of officials in Shanghai at all levels are female, said a newly released report.

 

The report, released on Thursday by the municipal women's federation, said that female cadres now account for 42.6 percent of the Shanghai total.

 

"The proportion is in no way inferior to that in developed western countries," said federation chairwoman Meng Yankun.

 

However, an analysis of the figures show that women are particularly present at lower grassroots levels. About 67.5 percent of neighborhood committee officials in Shanghai are female. Their sisters in Shanghai's rural area make up 33.8 percent of the total, up nearly 12 percent on the 2000 figure.

 

At the higher levels, women are a little scarcer, but the figures are still healthy.

 

Female deputies to Shanghai Municipal People's Congress -- women legislators -- account for 24.2 percent of the total and the female proportion in Shanghai Municipal People's Political Consultative Conference is 18.1 percent.

 

The number of women involved in politics is rising across the board, said the official.

 

Over half government and Communist Party committees at all levels in Shanghai have female officials, said the report.

 

Meng said Shanghai's top decision-making body now has two female officials. Newly-appointed deputy mayoress Yang Dinghua has joined experienced Yan Junqi on the body, reinforcing the trend towards greater female participation in political decision-making.

 

(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)