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Writing New Chapter for Cause of Women: Commentary
At the arrival of the first "March 8" International Laboring Women's Day of the new century, we extend our warm greetings to women of various nationalities and in various circles of the country who are working hard on various fronts! And our cordial regards to laboring women in various countries around the world!
Women of China solemnly commemorate this day, March 8 every year, in order to arouse the concern of the whole society for the issue and rights of women, earnestly safeguard their lawful rights and interests, and mobilize the broad section of women to actively pitch into the cause of reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive.
In China, the population of women makes up half of the total. In the great practice of reform, opening up and the socialist modernization program, they emancipate their minds, update their old concepts and display their abilities at their different posts, the large number of model workers and outstanding talents emerged in the process have become an important force in China's economic, political and cultural construction, and "hold up half the sky" in economic construction and social development. Women federations at various levels, under the leadership of Party committees and governments at all levels, are creatively carrying out work, centered around the general situation regarding the work of the whole Party and the whole country and in combination with the effort to safeguard women's rights and interests and promote an all-round development of women's cause; they have played an important role in improving women's qualities, safeguarding women's rights and interests and promoting socialist cultural and ethical progress. The work of women has taken on a new look brimming with vitality.
This year marks the beginning of the new century and is the first year of implementation of the outline of the 10th Five-year Plan for economic and social development in China. Under the guidance of the outline of the 10th Five-year Plan, China's Women and Children Development Program (2001-2010) will also be put into practice. Such being the case, success made in the work of this year will be of important significance in forming a connecting link between the preceding and the following and carrying on the past and opening a way for the future. Women federations at all levels should further emancipate their minds, be keen on reforms, engage in constant innovation and lead the broad section of women to start their careers and make contributions in the socialist modernization drive, so as to make a good start and lay a sound foundation for the cause of China's women and children at the beginning of the 21st century.
China is presently in the primary stage of socialism, the principal contradictions at the present stage determine that we must concentrate our energy on developing productive forces. Chinese women play a vital role in promoting social progress and boosting the liberation and development of productive forces. Implementation of the outline of the 10th Five-year Plan requires further display of the initiative and creativity of the broad masses of women. Women in different trades and professions should have a clear understanding of the situation, show greater enthusiasm in participating in the practice of the accelerated economic construction, ensuring that they work diligently, immerse themselves in hard work, learn from and overtake the advanced, be determined to make progress and display their talents in all places where they can exert their roles.
The deeper is reform and opening up and the further the development of the socialist market economy, the greater is the need to strengthen the building of socialist culture and ethics. Women are the creators of material wealth, as well as the builders of advanced culture and ethics. Women of all ethnic groups and from all walks of life should be well aware of the responsibilities placed on their shoulders, start something on their own initiative and begin with doing trifle things bit by bit; they should take the lead in promoting new social mood, advocate civilized and healthy lifestyles and ensure that they love the collective, show concern for others, respect and love their work, make selfless dedication, uphold science, boycott heresies, use their own civilization and progress to promote family civilization and progress and further social stability and development.
Respect and protect women is an important indication of social progress and is the law and morality a civilized society should have. At the arrival of the 91st "March 8" International Laboring Women Day, we hope that the entire society will further establish a Marxist outlook on women, give full play to the superiority of the socialist system in safeguarding women's legal rights and interests and enhancing the social status of women, implement the basic national policy on equality between men and women, discard the traditional concept of regarding men as superior to women, deal a telling blow at the law-breaking criminal acts that encroach upon the rights and interests of women and children and harm their physical and mental health, and strive to create a sound social environment for the development of women and children.
The broad section of Chinese women who have stepped on the new century journey, with their pursuit of and aspiration for the future, will definitely write a new chapter for the cause of the Chinese women by holding high the great banner of Deng Xiaoping Theory and rallying closely around the Party Central Committee with Comrade Jiang Zemin at the core.
This article appeared on Page 4 of People's Daily March 8 is written by Our Commentator to mark the 91st anniversary of the "March 8" International Laboring Women Day
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