Nearly 200 government officials, scholars and experts, and people working with children from 16 countries and regions gather in Beijing to discuss children's development at the First International Forum on Children's Development which opened yesterday.

The three-day forum was co-hosted by China's Soong Ching Ling Fund (SCLF) and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF).

"The development of children, which has become a global issue with the deepening of globalization, has now drawn more and more attention from the international community," said Hu Qili, SCLF Chairman, at the opening ceremony of the forum.

Hu Qili, president of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation

Christian Voumard, UNICEF Representative in China, said China has made great strides in reducing poverty and improving the lives of the hundreds millions of children, almost achieved the goal of universal primary education.

But some problems still exist such as how to improve the quality of education, to ensure universal access to education, and how to overcome the disparities between eastern and western regions, and to assist disadvantage groups, he said.

The forum will "enable experts from China and all over the world to share valuable experiences on how to respond to these challenges," said Voumard.

The forum also invited 20 children aged 12-18 to take part in it as delegates or children reporters. They will exchange ideas with experts, offer their opinions on the related issues and report to their peers around the world what is going on here.

In her letter to the forum, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Venerman, praising children's participation in the forum, said "UNICEF has long supported Children's participation in issues that directly affect them, and the issues discussed at the Forum are central to children's development and well-being."

The meeting has three sub-forums, focusing on children's development quality, gender difference and children's development, and protection of the disadvantaged children's rights.

Ms. Reva Nayyar, secretary of Department of Women and Child of Ministry of Energy and Development of India

Dr. Christian Voumard, UNICEF representative in China

(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency October 30, 2005)