An international symposium on empowering women called Saturday for tax benefits, a shift in immigration policy and changes in corporate culture to help women play more active roles in the economy.

The World Assembly for Women in Tokyo, attended by about 100 prominent and mostly female political and business leaders from 24 countries, also supported the Abe government's plan to submit to the Diet a bill obliging companies to set targets for promoting women.

Japan is hosting the three-day that began Friday as the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has made women's social advancement a pillar of its economic growth strategy. Participants included U.S. Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy and U.N. Development Program Administrator Helen Clark.