Nearly 1,000 delegates from 80 countries and regions took views on snapshots and items in an exhibition on Chinese women's development held in Beijing on Tuesday.

The exhibition introduces Chinese women's development within the past decade to the spectators who attended a four-day conference to commemorate the Tenth Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women here.

Gu Xiulian, president of the All-China Women's Federation, said at the opening ceremony that the exhibition shows Chinese government's efforts to improve Chinese women's social status and the roles Chinese women have played in pushing the Platform of Action achieved ten years ago.

Jan He, head of the delegation from US Chinese Women Federation said Chinese women abroad were surprised to see women's social status in China has been greatly improved, especially when they saw laid-off women have made good livings by their own efforts. 

Jane Zimmerman, past international president of Soroptimist International, told Xinhua it was a fascinating exhibition which gives an overall view of what Chinese woman really is in many areas, not only Beijing and Shanghai.

If the amazing achievement that Chinese women have made within the past ten years could happen in other areas, there will be great changes of the world, Ms. Zimmerman said.

"Female and male are just like Yin and Yang in Chinese tradition," Diane Wilcoxson said, if we realize an equitable situation of the two genders in decision making, women could make greater contribution to the world.

Firstly we should make people conscious of the gender equity and reduce women's poverty in bodies, education and spirits, which could enable women to take responsibilities in civil and social affairs, Ms. Wilcoxson added.

Delegates from Kazakstan said they were impressed by changes and achievements of China in general and with regard woman in particular.

Delegates from Venezuela and the United States expressed that it was very kind of the organizers to provide such an opportunity for them to know the cultural expressions of Chinese women.

(Xinhua News Agency August 31, 2005)