New Zealand Women's Affairs Minister Jo Goodhew is hoping to strengthen links with China in helping women achieve economic independence when she attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women and Economy Forum in Beijing this week. "New Zealand has a strong reputation internationally on gender equality. This is an opportunity to share our work -- at the highest level -- to improve the lives of women across our region, and to learn from other economies," Goodhew said in a statement Monday. "My attendance at this meeting will also strengthen our bilateral relationship with China and supports our participation in APEC." The forum, from May 21 to 23, is a ministerial-level meeting with a focus on developing policy recommendations for women and innovative economic growth. It will focus on strategies and actions for promoting women's participation in three key areas: women and green development; women and regional economic and trade cooperation and policy support and women's economic empowerment.