On March 7, over 1,000 Chinese and foreign women celebrated the day of their own in Beijing with fashion, dance and singing shows.

On Friday, March 7, over 1,000 Chinese and foreign women filed into the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to commemorate International Women's Day. The women ranged from lively, small girls to stately elderly matrons. Everyone sat freely around round tables filled with sweet and savory snacks. The meeting opened up with a formal welcome by the head of the All China Women's Federation, Gu Xiulian.

She touched upon several significant topics that concern women and the nation. Women have made great progress. The literacy level for Chinese women has significantly increased, with the average length of education now 7.3 years. Urban and health care systems are getting better, rural and farm cooperatives are expanding and improving. The average life expectancy for a Chinese woman is now 75.25 years. Women's rights and interests are in the news. More and more Chinese women are entering political life and vastly impacting the quality of life in a positive manner.

(China.org.cn by Valerie Sartor, March 8, 2008)