Lyu Yanxia: It's not so bad for Chinese women

China made a solemn promise putting the promotion of gender equality as its basic national policy. Picture: AFP/Getty Images

On International Women’s Day, an article entitled “Long journey ahead for women’s rights in China as abuse remains taboo issue”was carried, claiming a widespread infringement upon women’s rights in China, which is a total ignorance of the down to earth situation of women in China.

Interestingly, International Women’s Day has become a public holiday for women in China and is widely celebrated across the country, a true reflection of respect to women in China.

Twenty years ago, China hosted the successful Fourth International Women’s Conference to show its commitment to promoting women’s rights both in China and the rest of the world.

At the Conference, China made a solemn promise putting the promotion of gender equality as its basic national policy.

Since then the policy has been fully implemented. China has made several laws to protect women’s rights, and the government has taken strong and effective measures to increase their social status.

Facts always speak louder than words. In 2013, the number of female workers reached 350 million, accounting for 45 per cent of total employment with female entrepreneurs occupying a quarter of total entrepreneurs in China. Women are shining in every aspect in the country. Last year a female Chinese medical scientist Ms Tu Youyou was awarded a Noble prize for her contribution to the successful combat of malaria. The list of examples can go on and on.

In future, China will be more active in implementing the basic national policy of gender equality. Above all, women in China are not as miserable as the author has imagined.

• Lyu Yanxia is spokeswoman for the Chinese Consulate General in Edinburgh