Today the People's Daily publishes an editorial warmly greeting the 90th anniversary of the International Labor Women's Day. The editorial runs in full as follows:

Today is the International Labor Women's Day. Here we extend festival congratulations to women of all nationalities of the whole country, to women compatriots in the Hong Kong and Macao Special Administrative Regions, to women compatriots in Taiwan and to women overseas Chinese!

Ninety years ago, the Second International Socialists Women Congress designated March 8 as the International Labor Women Day. Over the past 90 years, along with the upsurge of national- liberation movement, hundreds of millions of women of different colors and races, in their efforts to pursue their own emancipation and promote human progress, have waged unremitting struggles and have written brilliant chapters in the history of the women liberation movement. The founding of New China has eradicated the economic base and class roots that subjected women to oppression and humiliation. China's women, who have gained maximal emancipation, have actively plunged themselves into the great cause of socialist construction. Under the solicitude of the Party and government, the labor rights and interests of Chinese women are safeguarded and their status has been on the rise, large numbers of outstanding women cadres have mounted the stage of administering State affairs, group after group of model workers and outstanding professionals, who emerged from among women on various fronts and in all fields, have become an important force in the reform, opening-up and socialist modernization drive and have made major contributions to China's economic vitalization and social development.

The great practice of the Chinese women movement has told us that women, who constitute half of the total population and play an important role in national construction, are the promoters of social progress and the creators of material wealth and advanced culture, they naturally enjoy respect, rights and the fruits of construction.

The great practice of the Chinese women movement has told us that the fate of women is always linked with that of the entire State and nation, the Chinese women liberation movement is an integral part of the Chinese revolutionary struggle and the cause of socialist construction. Upholding the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party, persistently taking Marxism-Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and Deng Xiaoping Theory as the guide and unswervingly following the road to socialism with Chinese characteristics-this is the only road for the healthy development of the Chinese women movement.

The great practice of the Chinese women movement has also told us that the women movement must be merged with the tide of the development of the whole society and into the torrent featuring the struggle of international women for liberation, for the realization of equality between men and women and for seeking peace and development, only then will it be better able to achieve the goal for women's liberation. In 1995, China successfully hosted the Fourth World Women Congress of the UN and the non-governmental organization women forum, at which the Beijing Declaration and Action Program were formulated and adopted for speeding up implementation of the Nairobi Strategy. President Jiang Zemin solemnly stated at the Congress that equality between men and women should be taken as a basic national policy for China's social development. The liberation and development of the Chinese women has become an important component of world women's struggle for equality and development and is enjoying a worldwide reputation.

Party committees and governments at all levels should pay further attention to the progress and development of women, conscientiously implement the basic national policy for equality between men and women and strive to attain the goal set in the Program for the Development of Chinese Women, thereby creating a more favorable social environment for women's progress and development.

Women federations at all levels nationwide should carry forward the glorious tradition, continue to carry out the activity of "learning cultural knowledge and technology and emulating each other in the aspects of achievements and contributions", "women making new contributions" and creating "civilized, five-good family"; they should properly implement the "Female quality project", the "project on getting rich through science and technology", the "women community service project" and the "project for family civilization", to inspire and pool the wisdom and strength of the general run of women, thereby making still greater contribution to economic construction and social development.

We are going to enter a new era filled with opportunities and challenges, the magnificent cause of reinvigorating the Chinese nation requires the courageous development-oriented efforts of the people of all nationalities of the country, including women. Let's rally closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core, hold still higher the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory, continue to develop the spirit featuring "self-respect, self-confidence, independence and self-improvement", study hard, enhance competence, engage in arduous struggle, strive to create a better future for the Chinese women movement and make continuous, new contributions to the reform, opening-up and socialist modernization drive.