Beijing to Host APEC 2001 WLN Meeting

The Women Leaders Network (WLN) Meeting 2001 under the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) is scheduled to be held in Beijing between August 22 and 24 this year.

Over 300 delegates, including female leaders of 21 APEC economies, female entrepreneurs in some small and medium-sized companies, scholars and representatives with non-governmental organizations, are expected to participate in the meeting, according to a press conference held by the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) here Wednesday.

The WLN Meeting 2001 is one of the series of APEC meetings hosted by China this year. Jointly hosted by the ACWF and four other women's institutions in China, the WLN meeting this year aims to serve as a mechanism to facilitate exchange and cooperation for women leaders and women entrepreneurs, promote mutual understanding and friendship, explore opportunities for women to participate in economic development and make their due contributions to the prosperity and peace of the Asia-Pacific region.

Delegates at the meeting this year will focus their talks on the challenges and opportunities for APEC women in the process of economic globalization. Discussions will cover the topics of women entrepreneurs and world markets, partnership with women-managed small and medium-sized enterprises, women's role in science, technology and sustainable development and gender mainstreaming into APEC process and activities.

A variety of workshops, concerning business and international trade, will be included in the meeting period, according to the organizers of the meeting.

Officials with related governmental departments are to be present at the meeting to give key-note speeches on China's economic situation and policy orientation. The meeting will also invite world-renowned entrepreneurs to speak about their experiences in doing business with their Chinese counterparts to all participants.

The WLN meeting is a flexible network of women, which was established within the framework of the APEC after the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. The annual meetings have been convened ever since 1996.






People's Daily Online --- http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/