Women push for political status at China-Africa forum in Cairo

CAIRO: China and African countries should take special measures such as quota allocation and specific timetable to create better conditions for women to participate in political affairs, the Women's Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation Forum 2009 said in a conference-ending declaration yesterday.

These should also include more training opportunities for women to gradually narrow the gender gap in political participation.

When coping with the financial crisis, government economic stimulus plans should take full consideration of the interests of both genders to avoid aggravating the gender gap and inequality, the declaration said.