BEIJING, Sept. 19 (Xinhua) - A white paper detailing the progress of women's cause in the 70 years since the founding of the People's Republic of China noted the significant growth of women's political status in the country.

(Photo: CCTV News)

Entitled "Equality, Development and Sharing: Progress of Women's Cause in 70 Years Since New China's Founding," the official document was released Thursday by China's State Council Information Office.

Since the early years of New China, the state has drawn up and implemented laws to guarantee that women share equal rights with men to vote, to be elected, and to participate in the administration of state affairs, the white paper said.

"Over the past four decades since the reform and opening-up, steady progress has been made in enhancing China's socialist democracy, which has provided new opportunities and channels for women to participate in politics," it said.

In 2017, women accounted for 52.4 percent of public servants newly-recruited by the central government organs and their affiliates, and the proportion was 44 percent among local governments, the document said.

In 2018, women represented 22 percent of the leadership in national public institutions, 1.6 percentage points higher than in 2015, it added.

Female participation in democratic management in enterprises has gradually increased as well, according to the white paper.

In 2017, female representatives made up 39.7 percent and 41.6 percent of boards of directors and regulatory committees, respectively, it noted.