UNITED NATIONS, March 6 -- Women issue should become an important element in the post-2015 development agenda, a Chinese envoy said on Thursday.

Wang Min, China's deputy permanent representative to the UN, made the remarks at the opening of a high-level meeting of the General Assembly on "The Contributions of Women, the Young and Civil Society to the Post-2015 Development Agenda."

"Promoting gender equality and protecting the rights and interests of women are important symbols for social development and world progress," Wang said.

China is in favor of setting a stand-alone goal for women in the post-2015 development agenda, with an emphasis being placed on their economic development and poverty eradication, he said.

Besides, while elaborating the goals for employment, health and education in the post-2015 development agenda, it is also necessary to give adequate consideration to the special needs of women, so as to address various challenges faced by women in their development, Wang said.

The envoy said next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the World Conference on Women in Beijing. "China welcomes and supports the forthcoming Beijing+20 commemorative activities, which will attract contributions in various forms from women's organizations around the world to the formulation of the post-2015 development agenda."