Employment key to gender equality, say women's advocates

China can empower women and eradicate gender inequality by improving employment opportunities and encouraging entrepreneurship among females, according to Song Xiuyan, vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation.

Between mid-2009 and the end of 2015, the federation "took action to encourage women's employment and entrepreneurship" by coordinating with financial departments, local governments and banks to provide more than 290 billion yuan ($44.23 billion) of discounted government loans and small loans to women across the country, encouraging them to find employment or start their own businesses.

The federation also launched about 8,100 entrepreneurship hubs for female college students across the country and selected more than 20,000 women entrepreneurs to be mentors and provide internships, as well as guide and train those students with entrepreneurial spirit.