Translated with AI
When Mi Xuemei first arrived in Zhongshan, the industrial hub of Guangdong Province, she was 22 years old and alone. In 1997, she left her mountain village in northwestern China's Gansu Province in search of work and a better future.
Her first job was as a security guard at a garment factory. Instead of resting after night shifts, she snuck into the workshop or warehouse, learning everything she could.
Thanks to her hard work and determination, Mi achieved success, becoming a statistician and assistant manager, and then rising to the position of quality specialist. She now lives a happy life with her family in the city and is a member of the National People's Congress (NPC), China's highest legislative body.
In 2018, Mi shared her story during a panel discussion with President Xi Jinping at the annual session of the National People's Congress. Xi Jinping listened attentively and remarked that the name Mi suited her. "Xuemei," which literally means "plum blossoms in the snow," is a common female name symbolizing grace and resilience.
"Your experience is like your name," Xi told her, quoting a famous Chinese poem: "Only after enduring extreme cold do plum blossoms release their most enchanting fragrance."
Mi was deeply touched by his words and felt they reflected Xi's support and recognition of countless women like her who have achieved success through hard work.
Like Mi, entrepreneur Zhuo Changli also drew new strength and determination from her meeting with Xi Jinping to advance her endeavors.
Zhuo, from Jinan, the capital of eastern China's Shandong Province, was laid off from her factory job in the 1990s. In 2003, seeking to help more women find work, she founded a home services business with the bright and encouraging name "Sunny Auntie."
During an inspection tour of Jinan in November 2013, Xi Jinping met with household service workers from Sunshine Auntie, emphasizing that "the household service industry has great potential and should be developed in a conscientious and professional manner."
When they met again five years later, Zhuo reported on Sunshine Auntie's progress. Pleased with the company's growth, Xi Jinping remarked, "The consumer services industry is a rising star."
Noting that the industry meets the practical needs of urban families for child and elderly care, he once again emphasized the importance of strengthening professional training and improving the quality of services.
Today, Sunshine Auntie has established a growing presence in cities across China, employing over 70,000 people. The organization has helped many women transform their lives and gain greater self-esteem.
To encourage and support more women like Mi and Zhuo to take an active part in the country's economic and social development, Xi Jinping has long placed great importance on women's professional development and the creation of broader platforms for women to thrive.
China has rolled out a number of policies and initiatives aimed at eliminating gender discrimination in the workplace and developing programs to support women's career advancement. Women currently make up approximately 43% of China's employed population.
Furthermore, by the end of 2024, China will have provided 640 billion yuan (approximately US$90 billion) in loans to support women's entrepreneurship, helping 8.49 million women realize their dreams and start their own businesses. In the internet sector, women account for more than half of all entrepreneurs.
"Every woman is a writer of her time and a dream-seeker," Xi Jinping once said. He believes it is important to unite the strength and wisdom of women, to show them respect and care, so that they can make an even greater contribution to building a modern socialist state and promoting national rejuvenation.
