Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, on Monday called for efforts to organize and motivate women to contribute their strength to Chinese modernization.

Xi, also Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed following a socialist path with Chinese characteristics for women's development.

Xi made the remarks during a talk with the new leadership of the All-China Women's Federation.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee has continuously improved the legal system for protecting the rights and interests of women and children and optimized the development environment for women, promoting historic achievements in women's causes, he noted.

In the past five years, women's federations at all levels have mobilized women to make efforts in promoting high-quality development, building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, poverty alleviation, combating the COVID-19 epidemic, technological innovation and rural revitalization, Xi said, adding that they have promoted family education and family virtues, and provided rights and interests protection services for those in need.

Giving full play to women's strength and their positive role

He urged efforts to motivate women to give full play to their strength and positive role in implementing new development philosophy, building new development patterns, promoting high-quality development, achieving high-level self-reliance and strength in science and technology, and advancing rural revitalization.

Doing a good job in women's work is not only related to women's own development but also related to the harmony of families and society, as well as national development and progress, Xi said.

It is necessary to guide women to play their unique role in carrying forward the traditional virtues of the Chinese nation and establishing good family virtues to create a new trend of family civilization, he said.

Noting that protecting the legitimate rights and interests of women and children, promoting gender equality and the all-round development of women and children are important elements of Chinese modernization, Xi called on women's federations at all levels to take proactive action to strive to solve prominent problems that affect and infringe on the rights and interests of women and children.

Efforts must be made to care for and assist low-income women, elderly women, disabled women and other women in need, and cooperate with relevant departments to provide care services for migrant and left-behind children, he said.

(With input from Xinhua)