XI'AN - The opening ceremony of the International Women and Green Living Forum was held in Xi'an, Shaanxi province on Saturday.

In announcing the opening, Vice-Governor of Shaanxi province Jiang Zelin stated that China has taken the construction of ecological civilization as an essential part in promoting scientific development, and achieved remarkable results in strengthening environmental protection.

Shaanxi province has done a lot of effective work that includes returning farmland to forests, pollution control in rivers, waste disposal and constructing agricultural ecological systems. It will continue to enhance ecological environmental protection and improve peoples' quality of life while paying more attention to economic development.

Jiang also expressed that women are a major force in promoting green living, and the success of this forum will urge them to play a more important role in constructing an ecological civilization.

Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of Shaanxi People's Congress, Luo Zhenjiang, said that the international community has reached a consensus on building the sense of importance around environmental protection and promoting green living. Families form the base of such a movement. In recent years, women in Shaanxi province have made a broad impact in society by voluntarily participating in various activities, especially in practicing the Xi'an World Park theme of low-carbon lifestyles. This suggests that the green living concept is entering more and more households.

The forum, with the theme of "Promoting green living, Presenting low-carbon style, Sharing multi-culture and Enjoying ecological civilization", is co-sponsored by several departments from the province. Delegates from New Zealand, Japan, the United States and China will further promote the significance of women and environmental protection, and share green living concepts and experiences from at home and abroad.

Before the ceremony, Jiang and Zhenjiang met delegates from the various nations in attendance. Resident representative of UN Women's Department Tang Zhuli also attended the ceremony.