Gu Xiulian, vice-chairwoman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, left Beijing Monday to attend the Chinese Women's Culture Week in France.

Gu, also president of All-China Women's Federation, led a Chinese women's delegation to attend the event to be held in Paris, Marseilles and Rennes from March 15 to 24.

The Chinese Women's Culture Week is a major event of the Chinese Culture Year. Activities include seminars on women's issues, photo shows on Chinese women's lives and fashion shows of China's different dynasties and nationalities.

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, Chinese Culture Year opened in France in October 2003. The French Culture Year will be held in China in the second half of this year.
 
(Xinhua News Agency March 16, 2004)