LONDON, Feb.11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and British officials, officers for the Olympics, athletes, business women and representatives of social groups gathered Monday afternoon at the British Museum to share views and experiences during the forum "Women and the Olympics."

The three themes covered by the forum were sports, the Olympic Games and women's lives in the community, and business opportunities created by the Olympic Games' business environment.

At the "Women and the Olympics" Forum, held as part of the week-long China-UK Women's Cultural Festival, Gu Xiulian, vice chairperson of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress (NPC) and president of the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), briefed the audience on China's national policy of gender equality and the development of women in the country over the years.

"This year Beijing will host the 29th Olympic and Paralympic Games. The world will witness from the Olympic platform not only China's long history and brilliant culture, but also the wonderful achievement made by the Chinese people since reform and opening-up in 1978," Gu said.

Tessa Jowell, British Olympics minister, commended the closer ties between the Olympics organizing committees of the two countries, saying the Games will bring enormous challenges to both Beijing and London economically, socially and civically.

She hoped that Olympic champions will be role models to women, adding that she is looking forward to visiting Beijing to watch the games.

Zhao Shaohua, vice-president of the All-China Women's Federation, explained the relations between the Olympic Games and Chinese women while Wang Weiguo, vice president of the China Family Culture Research Institute briefed the audience on how women in Beijing and across China have become involved in the preparations for the 29th Olympic Games in Beijing.

Deng Yaping, a Chinese Olympic table-tennis champion, also shared her views on gender equality in the Olympic games, while British tennis champion Debbie Jevans talked about women in sports in Britain.

An 80-strong Chinese women's delegation led by Gu Xiulian, has come for the week-long China-UK Women's Cultural Festival, part of the cultural season of "China Now" and "2008 China in London".

Aside from the forum, there will also be a photographic exhibition entitled Women in China, a popular performance called The Same Song-let's sing together, and a meeting between Chinese business women and their British counterparts, in the hope that the various activities will show the British people the progress and development that Chinese women have made since the country's reform and opening-up in 1978.

The China-UK Women's Cultural Festival is one of the highlights of "China Now" and "2008 China in London," deemed the largest ever Chinese cultural festival in Britain.