She said it is completely normal for different cultures, peoples and religions to have different understandings of women's issues.

However, there are cultures which "believe women are not citizens of the first class" or "are useless" and are difficult to change. Her agency will change these ways of thinking.

She said the world cannot afford to waste women's talents. They need opportunities for and access to education and jobs, so that their wisdom could be combined with men's to serve humanity.

Find enough financial and human resources for UN Women is another challenge for the new body.

With an annual budget of US$500 million, the agency may feel somewhat pressured in the face of tens of millions of women and girls living on less than US$1.25 per day, the international threshold for poverty.

"I'm doing my job to mobilize resources...the 500 million (dollars) was just for start-up. When we show achievements, there will be more people interested in investing in our efforts," she told Xinhua.

According to Bachelet, her agency hopes to work in a spirit of cooperation with other UN bodies to help achieve the MDGs before the 2015 deadline.

She said they would start with issues which have seen "little progress," like "maternity" and "women's economic autonomy."

When talking about her agency's cooperation with the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF), she said that UNIFEM, part of UN Women, has a good working relationship with the ACWF, with several pilot programs having already been completed.

She said the ACWF "is doing a great job" and is sure the good relationship will continue.

"Women should have the rights to give their opinions and both women and men should be equally involved in politics and decision-making processes...And that's the best way to develop a country and the world peacefully and harmoniously."

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2010)