By Huang Haimin, Bui Minh Long 　

    HANOI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Over 940 woman business, professional and governmental leaders from 72 countries and regions are seeking practical solutions and strategies to enhance their role in the Asian-Pacific region, Global Summit of Women (GSW) President Irene Natividad said Thursday.

    The 18th GSW, to be held in Vietnam for the first time on June 5-7, is to center on two major factors: dynamic Asia-Pacific economies led by China and India, and the important role of women whose purchase decision largely affects families and companies in the economies, the president told reporters ahead of the summit's opening ceremony.

Global Summit of Women (GSW) President Irene Natividad speaks to journalists of Xinhua News Agency in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 4, 2008. Irene Natividad called on all delegates attending the GSW due to kick off here later on Thursday to contribute to a fund designated to help women and girls victimized in China's devastating earthquake and Myanmar's cyclone.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The conception that women work hard but do not take the lead should be eliminated, she said, noting that more and more women make important purchase decisions at home and office, even determine the success of companies.

    The summit's activities include a pre-summit ministerial roundtable and plenary sessions on mega trends affecting the world's economies, opportunities in the Asia-Pacific region, and impact on women's health.

    The delegates, including the prime minister of Mozambique, the first lady of Burkina Faso and 32 ministers will share women-related experiences to multiply successful models in different countries.

    They will also give experience to youths, scholarships to students, grants worth 5,000 U.S. dollars each to the developers of two model projects, donation of 5,000 dollars each to victims of a recent earthquake in China's Sichuan province and of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, and awards to some influential figures in both politics and business arenas, Irene Natividad said.

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Ma Xiuhong (R) listens during the pre-summit Ministerial Roundtable Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam, June 5, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    Before the opening ceremony of the 18th GSW, themed "Women and Asia - Driving the Global Economy," in Hanoi, the ministers attended a closed-door roundtable to discuss best practices and approaches to advance girls and women's economic opportunities viafostering public-private sector partnership.

    At the plenary sessions, the delegates are to touch upon an economic profile of Asia-Pacific mega trends affecting the world's economies, value profile of Asia-Pacific women, energy and environmental impacts of corporate social responsibility, and opportunities relating to women chief executive officers in the region.

    They will also focus their discussions on entrepreneurial, micro-enterprise and leadership development issues at breakout sessions. The topics include expanding micro-enterprise sales, engaging young women and girls in entrepreneurship, closing the pay gap, avoiding cultural chasms when doing business in Asia, improving negotiation skills, ensuring women's health, and breaking the cycle of trafficking of women and children.

Truong Mu Hoa (R), Vice President of Vietnam, addresses the pre-summit Ministerial Roundtable Meeting in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, June 5, 2008.  (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The Washington-based GSW, a non-profit organization headed by an international planning committee of women leaders from different parts of the world, is an inclusive forum for women, including government leaders, entrepreneurs and experts, to develop networking and get substantial benefits, especially economic ones from actual learning and contact.

    The GSW does not release documents, but puts forth "best practices and practical strategies and solutions to problems," or "what can be done," Irene Natividad told Xinhua recently, noting that a woman minister can lead to the passage of a bill that positively affects life of thousands of women, or a woman entrepreneur can find business partners or get useful advice on export market.

    The 17th GSW in Germany last June was attended by nearly 1,000 representatives, including 44 woman cabinet members, from 95 countries and regions. 

African delegates expecting high from women's summit

    HANOI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Women are still victims of poverty and disparity, First Lady of Burkina Faso said here Thursday at the opening of the pre-summit ministerial roundtable of the Global Summit of Women. Full story


Chinese official: Government, business to seek ways to promote women's development

   HANOI, June 5 (Xinhua) -- Governments should cooperate with business communities to overcome the difficulties that hurt "the employment, education and welfare of women and their all-round development in the long-term", Chinese vice minister of commerce said here on Thursday before the opening of the Global Summit of Women. Full story

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