The protection of women's rights and interests can never be overestimated despite the progress that has been made.

This progress was outlined at the opening of the 11th National Congress of Women on Monday. In terms of women's participation in political life, the proportion of women among deputies to the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the 12th National People's Congress has increased 2.9 and 2.07 percentage points compared with five years ago. Their proportion among members of the 12th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference has risen 0.18 percentage points. Women account for 51 percent of all college students and 48 percent of all graduates in the mainland.

However, gender discrimination still exists in a wide range of areas, and so do violations of women's rights and interests.