SE China's Xiamen City Takes Action to Better Serve Women,

Officials in the city of , one of the country's original four special economic zones in southeast China's Fujian Province, have attached great importance to children and over the past four decades, according to a recent statement.

To protect the legitimate rights and interests of the disadvantaged groups, the local government has implemented the Programs for Women and Children's Development since the 90s.

With officials' efforts, the health conditions of women and children in the coastal city have significantly improved, thereby promoting social stability and economic development.

Better Services 

The average life expectancy for women in Xiamen has reached 83, overtaking that of many developed countries.

To guarantee safe and healthy births, the city has provided free premarital check-ups and pregnancy tests to locals.

Up till now, 16,363 couples have benefited from the favorable policy.

Xiamen also established a system to enable women from humble families to access free cervical and breast cancers screening.

Up to 270,000 of them have enjoyed the service so far.

Higher Enrollment Rates

Over the past four decades, Xiamen has been heavily investing in educational sector, making efforts to create a fairer educational environment.

The city's enrollment rates of primary and middle school students rank highest in the province, and more female students have been admitted to institutions of higher learning than ever before.

In recent years, the rate of women participating in vocational training reached 63 percent, and the rate of female students in vocational schools rose to 41 percent.

More Female Technicians

In Xiamen, senior and middle female technicians account for 51 percent of the total.

To boost women's incomes, the local government took action to develop industries like housekeeping, e-commerce, and rural tourism. It has also backed scores of women start-up bases to help them establish businesses and find jobs.

Green Living Environment

The local government has ramped up its efforts to build Xiamen into a famous liveable city over the past years.

Guided by the conviction that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, officials paid close attention to ecological environmental protection in urban planning and upgrading facilities for citizens.

In 2016, Xiamen won the title of National Ecological City, and its four districts including Haicang, Xiang'an, Jimei, and Tongan each became National Ecological Districts.

(Source: China Women's News / Translated and edited by )