The Tenth National Women's Congress, October 28, Beijing.

In her October 28 work report to the Tenth National Women's Congress in Beijing, Huang Qingyi, Deputy Chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) noted that 2008 is the 30th anniversary of China's reform and opening up. Huang hailed the country's achievements so far and added that hopes for the future were even brighter. She said Chinese women are playing an indispensable part in China's historic achievements in economic and social development.

In Chinese history, feudal ideology and an accumulation of many other factors meant that the position of women in society was particularly bad.

But in the past few decades women have had the opportunity to receive an education. Between 1931 and 1945, only 7,800,000 women were enrolled in primary school, and only 0.46 percent women entered higher education. Without education or training, the chances for women to find employment were very slim.

In feudal society, women were not allowed to serve in government. Even after the foundation of new China, despite their improved political and social status women made up only 12.3 percent of the deputies at the 2nd National People's Congress – still a very low rate of participation in state affairs.

But the policy of reform and opening up gave a new impetus to the progress of Chinese women.

Over 30 years of reform, the China Women's Federation has entered a new era, and Chinese women now have a brand new look.