With the flame of entrepreneurship for women burning bright in both China and the United States, The Inner Mountain Foundation, a global women's empowerment community, has launched its first United States-located chapter in Los Angeles in early June to support more women in expanding their inner strength and overcoming self-limitations.

The Inner Mountain Foundation promotes the empowerment of women through education, community and outreach. It is built on three unique pillars: "Look Within", "Community" and "International".

"We will continue to create an environment that supports self-discovery and mutual uplifting, centered on the concept of 'holding space', which advocates for a mindful presence and deep listening," said Diane Wang, founder of the Beijing-headquartered the Inner Mountain Foundation.

"Our goal is to foster a social movement that encourages women to tackle internal challenges and break free of their limiting beliefs that hinder their potential," said Wang, who also is the founder, chairwoman and CEO of DHgate Group, a Chinese cross-border business-to-business e-commerce company.

"We are enthusiastic about expanding our impact with the launch of our California chapter. With chapters worldwide, the foundation can foster a dynamic and vibrant culture across country borders," she said.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 2024 BRICS Women's Leadership Forum in Beijing on Tuesday, Yu Jianlong, vice-chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that women entrepreneurs contribute significantly to economic development by creating jobs and fostering innovation.

"Encouraging women to start and grow businesses can lead to increased economic activity and GDP growth," he said.

Highlighting that global trade has evolved beyond the era of being dominated by large enterprises and into an era where everyone can participate, Wang, from DHgate, said that the fast-growing digital trade sector is creating numerous opportunities for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, and even individuals.

"Digital technologies like artificial intelligence and big data are the forces behind this evolution. The technology has reshaped the global trade in every aspect," she added.

By the end of 2023, DHgate served more than 77 million registered buyers from more than 200 countries and regions, connecting them to over 2.6 million sellers in China and other countries.