BEIJING - Shen Yueyue, president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), said Wednesday that China will cooperate with countries in East Asia to make the region more equal and prosperous for both men and women.

Shen, also vice chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, made the remarks while addressing the opening ceremony of the 5th East Asia Gender Equality Ministerial Meeting, which will be held from Wednesday to Thursday in Beijing.

China is home to one-fifth of the women in the world, Shen said.

"As the most populous developing country, China shoulders a more arduous obligation in promoting gender equality," she said.

Though East Asian countries have achieved a lot in enhancing gender equality in the past decades, inequality in various forms still exists in an array fields of society, hindering women's further development and ?overall social progress, Shen said.

China will unswervingly promote friendly relations and common development with other East Asian countries and continue to cooperate with them to make the region more equal and prosperous.

About 120 delegates from 13 countries in East Asia will take part in the two-day event.