Women have more say in politics, with more than 200 of them now in positions of the governors, cabinet ministers or holding posts equivalent to that level.

The proportion of female officials at various levels of government and state institutions has been raised to 40 percent, said Huang Qingyi, vice-president and first secretary of the Secretariat of All-China Women's Federation, at a press conference on Tuesday.

"The participation of women in politics has increased enormously," Huang said, noting that currently there are nine female "state leaders" -- a term described people with a post equal to or above the vice-premier level.

These important females include Wu Yi, vice-premier and Political Bureau member of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, He Luli, Gu Xiulian and Uyunqimg, all vice-chairwomen of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, or top legislature, and Chen Zhili, State Councilor.

Five women have been promoted to state leaders in less than six years since 2001, Huang added.

At the end of 2005, there were 241 women in the ministerial posts across China, which means they are key decision-makers in a province and ministry, or equally important state agencies.

(Xinhua News Agency May 15, 2007)