Women should play a bigger role in China's economic and social development and women's federations at all levels should help them to this effect, a senior legislator said in Beijing Tuesday.

All women's federations should be committed to improving women's literacy and livelihood, said Wang Zhaoguo, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the top legislature of the country.

The federations should mobilize women to serve the country's 11th five-year program for national economic and social development which starts next year, said Wang at a meeting of the All-China Women's Federation.

He also called on women's federations at all levels to protect the legitimate rights and interests women and tackle practical problems for them.

President of the All-China Women's Federation Gu Xiulian also asked local women's federations to work hard in helping rural women in education and employment.

(Xinhua News Agency December 14, 2005)