The opening ceremony for the Women’s Participation in Public Service training session was held by China Women's University (CWU) in Beijing on July 19.

Mu Hong, director of the International Liaison Department of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), attended the event and delivered a speech. CWU President Liu Liqun delivered an opening speech.

In attendance were Kumba Alice Momoh, Minister of the Sierra Leone Embassy in China; Wenchi Yu, Asia Pacific head for Corporate Engagement, Goldman Sachs; Beth Bader, director of the University of Chicago Center in Beijing; Song Jian, vice director of the International Liaison Department of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, and dozens of other international and domestic experts and scholars.

Dr. Rangita de Silva de Alwis, formerly responsible for "women’s in public service" program of the U.S. Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and Susan Jolly, program officer of the Beijing Office of the Ford Foundation, sent video messages.

Liu Meng, Vice president of CWU presided over the ceremony. Sixty female college students and teachers from seven women's colleges across the country and relevant officials of CWU participated in the event.

Mu warmly congratulated organizers of the training class on behalf of the ACWF and the International Liaison Department. She pointed out that "women’s participation in public service" project is one of the important activities for women’s exchanges under the framework of China-US High Level Consulation on People-to-People Exchange.

Mu said she believes that the training class has opened a window and built a bridge for students to learn new ideas and knowledge, and has brought new thinking and powerful impetus for them to better serve society and encourage development.

President Liu Liqun warmly welcomed all the students on behalf of CWU, and thanked them for their care and support, also for relevant institutions, organizations and women's colleges. She said that CWU attaches great importance to the training course, carefully arranges the teaching content, and provides a thoughtful service. She hopes that every student can learn to think, improve their gender awareness and leadership, and promote the full improvement of China women's participation in public services.

Momoh, Yu and Bader expressed their congratulations and shared their own personal growth and successful experiences in “women’s participation in public service”.

Twenty CWU students participate in the class. The other 40 students are from Hunan Women's University, Shandong Women's University, Ginling College of Nanjing Normal University, Women's College of Tongji University, Women's College of Shanghai Normal University, and Guangdong Women’s Polytechnic College. They will deepen exchanges, promote friendships and grow together through this platform, organizers hope.