Over 500 women leaders and experts from the Asia-Pacific region attended a forum in Hong Kong on Saturday to share ideas and explore strategies in promoting women' s rights at a time when the world is undergoing rapid changes.

The one-day forum, titled "Women's Role in the Changing World", is expected to focus on topics such as better education opportunities for women, straightening women's role in environment protection, social and political development.

According to the organizer of the forum, the HK Federation of Women, the participants of the forum come from Malaysia, Japan, South Korea and China's Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Chinese mainland.

Pansy Ho, co-convenor of the forum, said women's role has taken great strides in the past decades in Hong Kong and women are enjoying equal rights with men in many areas.

However, she said despite the "hard-earned status" for Hong Kong women, one should not neglect the fact that many women in other societies are "still on an uphill struggle."

She noted the global economic crisis has brought a whole new set of challenges to women, who are still more vulnerable to such changes than men.

She encouraged participants to share their views on any gender implications of the economic crisis, as well as insights on how women can contribute to shaping a better society for the future.

Chen Zhili, chairwoman of the All-China Women's Federation, who was invited as a keynote speaker for the forum, said women's empowerment is critical to bringing out the full potential of economic, social, and political developments.

She pledged China will actively cooperate with women's groups in the region in the advancement of women's rights.

(Xinhua News Agency August 30, 2009)