A senior Chinese legislator called Sunday for equal educational opportunities for women.

Gu Xiulian, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, made the remarks at a symposium on the educational development of women.

Gu, who is also president of the All-China Women's Federation, said that promoting female education and improving women's overall equality were required to build a moderately prosperous society and a harmonious modern socialist country.

China must push for greater gender equality in education by further integrating educational resources, building educational bases and reinforcing theoretical research, Gu said.

The symposium was sponsored by the women's education committee under the Chinese Women's Research Society.

(Xinhua News Agency November 26, 2007)