Beijing Women's Federation

In 2026, China serves as the host economy of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). With the support of the Policy Partnership on Women and the Economy (PPWE), the APEC Workshop on Enhancement of Digital Literacy and Skills for APEC Women was held in Beijing from April 22 to 23. Participants included officials and experts in women’s talent development and innovation from China, Peru, Papua New Guinea, Russia, the United States, Malaysia, Thailand, and other APEC economies. They engaged in policy dialogue and case sharing centered on opportunities and challenges facing women in the digital era, promoting regional cooperation and knowledge exchange.

For more mutual learning and exchange among women in the region, the Beijing Women’s Federation organized a visit to Huairou District on the afternoon of April 23. The delegation visited the Capital Base for Women and Children’s Development, gained first-hand insights into Beijing’s achievements in women’s development, and met with women representatives who had attended the landmark 1995 World Conference on Women. Lei Xiaoning, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairperson of the Beijing Women’s Federation, accompanied the delegation throughout the visit.

At the Great Wall Museum of Tian Fengyin, Tian Fengyin—a National March 8th Red-Banner Pacesetter and museum director—shared her artistic journey. As a female artist who grew up near the Great Wall, she has long centered her creative work on the Great Wall as a core theme. She also shared her experiences as a volunteer at the 1995 World Conference on Women, her two invitations to speak at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, and her memorable experience creating state gifts for APEC leaders. Guests paused to admire the artworks and expressed great appreciation for the dedication of Chinese women artists, as well as for the cultural heritage and national spirit embodied by the Great Wall.

The delegation then visited the Beijing Gaolianghe Painted Ceramic and Porcelain Factory. Factory director Gao Linrong introduced the production process for guests of painted porcelain design and manufacturing, and shared the factory’s development course since its establishment in 1979. Over the years, the factory has trained local rural women in painting techniques from the ground up, enabling them to pursue entrepreneurship and increase their incomes. She highlighted how the factory has leveraged digital tools such as e-commerce livestreaming and online marketing to expand its business, with products now exported worldwide. By empowering traditional intangible cultural heritage industries through digital technologies, the factory has created more income opportunities for local women.

Overseas guests praised the exquisite craftsmanship of Chinese traditional handicrafts and noted that the factory’s model—where women support one another and achieve shared prosperity—offers valuable experience for women’s development across APEC economies.

The APEC Workshop on Enhancement of Digital Literacy and Skills for APEC Women is a key initiative under the PPWE-funded project “Embracing the Changing Future: Enhancement of Digital Literacy and Skills for APEC Women”, jointly organized by the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology and other institutions. The visit served as a vivid reflection of the theme “Building an Asia-Pacific Community to Prosper Together,” allowing representatives from different economies to directly experience Beijing’s practices in promoting women’s development.

Going forward, the Beijing Women’s Federation, as a bridge and platform, will actively engage within the APEC framework to deepen cooperation and contribute to the high-quality development of women’s advancement across the Asia-Pacific region.