Premier Wen Jiabao urged government departments this week to protect the rights and interests of women and children and further improve their situation, advancement in which he said should be seen as a measure of social progress.

"Although China has made tremendous progress in this area since it began its reform and opening up policy, it still has much to do in protecting the rights and interests of women and children and in truly realizing the equality of men and women," Wen said at a national meeting on women and children held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday.

According to the Ministry of Health, medical facilities for children and women in rural areas are inadequate. Of rural children who died of illness, half did not receive medical treatment or only received treatment in clinics.

Wen ordered all levels of government to prioritize the protection the issue and solve outstanding shortcomings, including in women’s employment, educational opportunities for all children and the abduction and trafficking of women and children.

He said women and children’s situations should be made an important index of economic and social development and government work, and development in this area should be included in the 11th Five-Year Plan (2006-2010).

Wen said trade unions and other non-governmental organizations should be mobilized to make joint progress in this field.

Conditions should be created to facilitate women’s participation in economic, political and cultural affairs, he said, and support for rural women and children’s development increased.

Vice-Premier Wu Yi, who is also chairperson of the State Council’s National Working Committee on Children and Women, chaired the meeting.

(Xinhua News Agency August 17, 2005)