Stylists apply makeup for female workers at a construction site in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on 7 Mar, 2023,  a day before International Women's Day. YUAN JINGZHI/FOR CHINA DAILY

The United Nations Population Fund in China, China Population and Development Research Center and China Population Association organised a seminar in Beijing on Tuesday to mark the 34th World Population Day.

Themed "Unleashing the power of women amid the new normal of population dynamics in China," the seminar brought together over 100 experts. Drawing on international experience, it shared findings on gender equality and women's development in China, and called for the government, public and private sectors to join hands to invest in gender equality and empower women to exert their rights freely in the context of low fertility and rapid population ageing in China.

"Women and girls make up half of the world's 8 billion population. The creativity, ingenuity, resources and power of half the planet's population are fundamental to addressing demographic and other challenges that threaten our future. When women and girls are empowered to exert autonomy over their lives and bodies, they and their families thrive," said Ira Ovesen, deputy representative of UNFPA in China.

"China always attaches great importance to the equality between women and men and women's development, and improves its maternal and child health services. We need to respect and care for women, advocate for shared childcare responsibilities of couples, and build a fertility friendly society," said Yang Jinrui, deputy director-general of Department of Population Surveillance and Family Development, National Health Commission of China.

China has embraced gender equality as a fundamental principle of its national policy. In pursuit of this goal, the country has introduced over 100 laws and regulations to protect women's rights, alongside offering protective services tailored to their specific needs.

In the realm of sexual and reproductive health, China has taken significant strides by providing comprehensive, cost-free basic healthcare services to pregnant women, covering all stages from pregnancy to childbirth and postnatal care. In the field of education, the gender gap in basic education has been nearly eradicated, with an impressive enrolment rate of 99.9 percent for both girls and boys in primary school. Furthermore, China's commitment to fostering female participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics is exemplified by its status as the leading source of female applicants for the Patent Cooperation Treaty in 2021.

Experts said China can do more to help the women in the country to balance their personal and professional lives, as well as realizing their fertility aspirations.

"We need to further empower women and harness the gender dividend, in order to promote high-quality development of the Chinese population," said He Dan, director-general of CPDRC.