More Active Role For Women In Development

Nanning, China - Her Royal Highness Princess Hajah Masna, Brunei's ambassador-at-large for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, yesterday called for a more active role for women to promote friendship and cooperation between China and Asean.

The princess was speaking at the First China-Asean Women's Forum in Nanning, China.

"Today's gathering serves as a friendship bridge in bringing together the various women's institutions and organisations," Princess Hajah Masna told the forum in a prepared speech, a copy of which was made available to The Brunei Times here yesterday.

"It is indeed an important first step towards further enhancing Asean-China women's friendship focussing on the theme `Strengthening Women's Cooperation, Promoting Common Development'."

Women entrepreneurs were called to explore and take advantage of the full realisation of Asean-China Free Trade Area in 2010.

"With the shared commitment to strengthen our relationship further, more progress in the areas of trade and investment is expected," the princess said.

Both sides have already exceeded the initial trade target of US$100 billion and is expected to grow when the free trade area goes on full speed in 2010.

"I believe this forum could play an important role in supporting and mainstreaming women through their participation in the Plan of Action to

Implement the Joint Declaration on Asean-China Strategic Partnership for Peace and Prosperity."

The princess also welcomed the convening of Asean-China Business talks for women entrepreneurs today.

The princess also acknowledged China's role in advancing the status of women when Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. As for Asean, Princess Hajah Masna said regional cooperation and national policies in the areas of education, employment, health, ICT, social issues and training have brought about tremendous progress on women's development in the past 30 years.

The literacy rate for women in Asean has dramatically increased and their status has improved as shown in the rates of infant mortality and an increase in the life expectancy.

The first women's forum provided great potential to establish a mechanism for exchange and cooperation, the princess said.

"Both sides could collaborate in practical projects and measures to promote women's development including capacity building." -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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