Women officials from Pacific island countries learn to weave fishing nets in Dongtou district, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Wenzhou News Media Center]
Thirty women officials from Pacific island countries visited Haixia village in Dongtou district, Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, on Oct 16, for a six-day exchange as part of a seminar on women and sustainable development for Pacific island countries starting on Oct 15.
They visited the Dongtou Pioneer Women's Militia Company memorial hall and the "Haixia Mothers" volunteer service team headquarters, learning how island women have shifted from protecting the coast to taking part in grassroots governance and public welfare.
They also experienced traditional local activities, learning to weave fishing nets from local fisherwomen and make jimuguo, a Dongtou intangible cultural heritage rice cake.
Chen Yingying, director of the Dongtou Haixia Culture Development Center, said the itinerary was tailored to the visitors' island backgrounds to promote international awareness of Dongtou's island culture. Many officials said they hoped their home countries could learn from Dongtou's experience and that women's self-reliance is a universal language.
The exchange stems from cooperation between Dongtou and China Women's University, which turned Dongtou into a mobile classroom for the training of women's cadres.
During the six-day exchange, the officials will also visit multiple sites in Wenzhou, including industry bases and coastal villages, to learn about women's roles in the digital economy, marine industries, heritage, and maritime rescue.
