Ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit in China's Qingdao next month, the All-China Women's Federation is hosting the first SCO Forum on Women. Themed "Pooling Strength of Women for Common Development", the two-day forum kicked off in Beijing today. Wei Lynn Tang reports.

Over 200 attendees attended the first SCO Women's Forum. They were from eight member states, including China, Russia, Kazakhstan from observers, dialogue partners, women's institutions to representatives of UN agencies.

The consensus was: most welcome this forum as a platform to share wisdom, development lessons, and more importantly, support.

RABIYA JAVERI AGHA, SECRETARY OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS PAKISTANI MINISTRY OF HUMAN RIGHTS "The world has become more interconnected and we cannot operate in vacuums. For the success of development, the empowerment of women is very important and it is forums such as these which have the Shanghai spirit, spirit of cooperation, togetherness, the spirit of sharing good practices."

And it's also the spirit of learning from one another, Rabiya says, that will be built into the development plans of financial budgets and policies for women empowerment.

The forum also attracted ASEAN countries, which believe women are still an untapped resource, and have much to offer, amid challenges in today's world.

DR. ING KANTHA PHAVI CAMBODIAN MINISTER OF WOMEN'S AFFAIRS "Trade, due to new technology, a lot of changes in the world and it’s the reason why women as an active contributor because they were hidden before."

China has made strides in women's development. Since 2009, venture guarantee loans worth 345 billion yuan have been granted to women.

Meanwhile, the proportion of female employment in the country stands at 43 percent, while that of women Internet entrepreneurs, 55 percent.

A former practicing doctor, Li, who is now a business owner, says the forum serves as a positive support network for women.

CATHERINE LI, PRESIDENT EBAONET HEALTHCARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY "We should encourage women at every level, not just those pursuing their careers but also mothers, to participate in society. Because this will impact the way they bring up their kids--sons and daughters alike. Women with creativity and courage will likely see their kids walk into society with the same pursuits when they grow up."

WEI LYNN TANG BEIJING "At a time of new uncertainties, the first SCO Women's Forum seeks to harness and reaffirm the power of women--in their role to contribute to social development and progress, as well as to the lasting peace and common prosperity of the world. WLT, CGTN, Beijing."