Beijing Women's Federation

Women Share Stories for 'Her Beijing' Film Series, Mark 40th Annivof Reform, Opening up

Organizers held a grand gatheringat the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on December 18, 2018, to officially mark the 40th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up policy.

During the conference, President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered an important speech.

Xi said: "Openness brings progress,while seclusion leads to backwardness. China cannot develop itself in isolation from the world, and the world needs China for global prosperity."

The past 40 years of China opening its doors to the outside world has brought diverse world cultures intothe country's ancient, mysterious, Eastern civilization. The inclusive environment in Beijing, the nation's capital, has allowed Chinese and foreign women there more opportunities than ever before.

Meanwhile, Beijing Women's Federation made its own contribution tothe 40th anniversary of the reform and opening up by releasing a series of short documentaries as part of its external communication section for their 2018film "Her Beijing".

For the series,officials invited female representatives working and living in Beijingto share their own stories of the city on the theme of "openness". Participants included:Gui Fan, vice president of Beijing International Chinese College; Huang Lei, president of the China Islamic Finance Club;and,Emily Roblin, founder of Inner Circles, from Canada.

Further guests also included China Radio International host Wang Yuange, and, Zahra Baitie, the founder and CEO of Kente& Silk, a management consultancy firm from Ghanawhich is committed to enhancing China-Africa relations.

Under the guidance of Beijing Women's Federation, Beijing Women's International Center has produced a"Her Beijing" feature film each year since 2015. The center has regularly invited Chinese and foreign women working and living in Beijing to tell their stories from the perspective of women and internationalization.

Through theseviewpoints, viewers can gain an insight into the changes and development of Beijing as an international city, thereby proceeding to learn about China's stories through reflections onits capital.

The most recent invited guests talked about the impact of reform and opening-up on women from five aspects, which included: promoting women's development, promoting pluralism and tolerance, building a community of shared destiny for females, the happiness of Beijing in people's hearts, and working together for a better future.

Based on their own experiences, the female representatives spoke about the process of Chinese culture traveling outwards and the multi-culturalism coming into the country over the past four decades.

They shared their view on the unique advantages of women in international exchanges, the promotion of women's leadership and their experience of balancing families and careers. They also analyzed the power of women in building a community of shared future for mankind, and put forward their own views of further developing Beijing into an international exchangecenter.