The project, "China's Accession to WTO: A Challenge for Women", is the first gender-related WTO project in China which is also coordinated by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC) of China and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchange (CICETE).

UNDP Resident Representative Kerstin Leitner said the project would analyze the impact of China's entry into the WTO on the economic security and employment of women in key sectors such as agriculture and industry.

She noted that it was vital to integrate a gender perspective into the formulation, implementation and monitoring process of future reforms.

Wang Wei, deputy director of the Department of Social Development of the SDPC, said that women in China would face new challenges now that China has entered the WTO. He added that increasing employment pressure would be difficult for China to solve in the future.

In addition, he stressed that with China's accession to the WTO, great changes would take place in China's economic structure and its economic mechanism, so the Chinese government should take steps to improve relevant rules and regulations in a bid to protect women's rights.

It will take about two years to complete the project. Research will be undertaken by government departments, women's organizations, research institutes and international organs.

(Xinhua News Agency March 26, 2002)