YANGON, March 9 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has stressed the need for giving priority to promoting the role of women in rural areas, voicing support and encouragement to the female population there, Myanmar News Agency reported Friday.

Speaking at the International Women's Day event in Nay Pyi Taw Thursday, Aung San Suu Kyi emphasized the importance of the women's role in rural areas as 30 percent of the gross domestic product of the country comes from the agricultural sector, while 70 percent of the total population is living in rural areas.

"The more the women get their rights, the higher the standard of human rights of a country," she said, adding that using the power of the mass of women would contribute to economic development.

She also urged the new generation of women to strive for their security and improving their skill while emulating the talented Myanmar women in successive past eras.

Aung San Suu Kyi also called on women, who make up more than half of the country's total population, to apply the democratic practices of mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual trust so that they can fully make use of their ability and skill in taking part in building a peaceful democratic federal society.

The International Women Day event was organized by the All Myanmar Women's Affairs Committee with the motto "Time is Now: Rural and Urban Activists Transforming Women's Lives."