Her Excellency Prof. Dr. Anwara Begum,

Vice-Chancellor of Atish Dipankar University

of Science & Technology

Her Excellency Begum Selima Rahman

Hon'ble State Minister for Cultural Affairs

Distinguished Ambassadresses

Fellow Sisters and Friends,

 It is greatly privileged and honored for me to have today's friendly get-together. First of all, I would like to avail myself of this valuable opportunity to extend my sincere welcome to your participation and warmest congratulations to the impending International Women's Day.

As a significant event for the women across the world, the International Women's Day marks the worldwide care, respect and protection extended to us.  Thanks to unswerving hard work during the past century, women of every country have delightedly witnessed the enhancement of their political status. Women are playing more and more important role in the nation's political, economical and social life. In China, the central government attaches great importance to the protection of women rights, and continuously intensifies its efforts in safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of women in earnest. In August, 2005, China launched the white paper on Gender Equality and Women's Development in China. The paper introduces to the whole world China's progress in promoting gender equality and women's development over the past decade. According to the statistics, by the end of 2004, the number of both urban and rural women workers reached 337 million nationwide, accounting for 44.8 percent of the total employed. With the implementation of large-scale and effective special poverty-reduction development programs, the government has succeeded in reducing the poverty-stricken rural population from 80 million in 1994 to 26.1 million in 2004. The mortality rate of women in pregnancy and childbirth is gradually lowered while the life standard and life's expectancy is substantially enhanced. What should be particularly mentioned is the incessant promotion of women's social status. At present, China has woman vice premier,woman state councilor and women ministers in different governmental organizations. And women diplomats are playing increasingly significant role in international arena.

My fellow sisters,

I first came to Bangladesh in 1991 accompanied with my husband and stayed in Dhaka for two years. 12 years later, I again stepped on this land and was greatly impressed by the dramatic changes happening in the whole society. Particularly to my astonishing delight, Bangladesh has reaped in noticeable progress in gender equality, quite visible even in remote village areas. The practice of exemption of girl's tuition fee, micro credit in villages and incentives to increase garments export, along with other measures implemented by the government, have substantially improved women's status. Every morning on the way to the garments factories, women worker's flowery shari and their faces written with happiness and confidence become a uniquely beautiful scene in the hustle and bustle of Dhaka.

Women is naturally the first word coming to mind as we talk about beauty. Mildness, goodness and profound care embodied by women become the gene for the world's incessant advancement and progress and play the irreplaceable part in promoting peace and harmony between different ethnics and countries. Among the guests present here, we have ministers, senior diplomats, entrepreneurs, journalists and social workers. You are the representatives of excellence, intelligence and diligence. And my special regards also go to the fellow wives from diplomatic corps. I believe that the majority of you are well-educated and had a handsome job. To support the husband's career, you shoulder the task caring the whole family while deserting your favored job. You are lofty trees to shelter you husband and children traveling around the world and spreading the seeds of friendship around the world.

My fellow sisters,

We still live in an unquiet world. Wars, plague and terrorist attacks become hazardous threats to the women worldwide, many of whom still scrabble out of poverty, hunger and diseases. We have a lot to do for the sake of health and wealth of the women worldwide. We should join hands together for the common sustainable and harmonious advancement of the whole human world.

Wish everybody present here good health, progress and happiness!

Thanks!