BEIJING: Women are holding more government positions in China, an official said on Tuesday, although they still lag behind men in jobs at the very top.

“In leadership at provincial, municipal and county levels, the proportion of female officials has increased by more than 17 per cent,” said Huang Qingyi, Vice Chairwoman of the National Working Committee on Children and Women under the State Council. “The number of female cadres has increased rapidly with an increasing participation in the political affairs of China,” she said. “The proportion of females accounts for almost 40 per cent of officials in the country.”

Huang spoke at a news conference where she announced improvements in the lives of women and children in China, including an increase in women’s employment levels to 45 per cent of the total work force.

More than 99 per cent of school-age children in China are enrolled in school, after the government waived miscellaneous fees for rural students.

“Currently in China there are nine female state leaders. The figure was four in 2001,” Huang said, adding there were 241 female officials at provincial or ministerial levels by the end of 2005.—AP