She is known as "China's iron lady," but impresses the world with her soft tone and charming smiles.

She dreamed of becoming a great entrepreneur in her youth, but turned into the only female figure in China's core of political power.

Vice premier Wu Yi poses for a group photo with women at home and abroad in Beijing in this March 7, 2006 file photo. [newsphoto]

Elegant and intelligent, Vice-Premier Wu Yi, 67, is the world's third most powerful woman, according to a Forbes magazine list published on Friday. It also said German Chancellor Angela Merkel overtook US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as the world's most powerful woman, with Rice ranking second.

But Wu is not the only influential Chinese woman to feature on the list. She is joined by Wu Xiaoling, 59, vice-governor of the People's Bank of China, and Yang Mianmian, 65, chairwoman and executive director at the Haier Group, the world's fourth-largest manufacturer of household appliances. They respectively rank 35th and 70th on the list of the world's 100 most powerful women.

China's resource-starved and fast-paced economy has kept Vice-Premier Wu busy this year, the US-based magazine said.

"Among the issues on her very full plate are addressing intellectual copyright concerns and trade imbalances while nurturing new markets," it said.

She placated the European Union when she declared that "bilateral trade co-operation is in the common interests of both sides."

She announced more than US$18 billion worth of government contracts, including an estimated US$5 billion order for Boeing aircraft, while visiting the United States in April.

She also travelled to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea on an official goodwill visit, part of international efforts to tackle the DPRK nuclear issue.

"In my eyes, Wu is a wise and capable woman, and a little bit aggressive. Her benevolent smiles always give others a sense of security," said Chen Ruya, who works for a foreign consultancy company in Beijing.

Her outstanding performances in China's diplomatic activities guaranteed her place on the list, Chen said.

Wu helped hammer out five trade agreements with Russia in 1999 and oversaw delicate negotiations for China's accession to the World Trade Organization.

Wu ranked second in 2004 and 2005 on the Forbes' list. Its annual listing is based on a power ranking that is a composite of visibility measured by media citations and economic impact.

Besides Wu, Merkel and Rice, the rest of the top 10 are business executives, led by the chief executive-designate of PepsiCo, Indian-born and educated Indra Nooyi.

In its assessment of Wu Xiaoling, Forbes said "no other woman is more powerful in the world of finance in China than Wu Xiaoling."

She won kudos for restoring confidence in China's economy and its currency after she helped calm the markets during the Asian financial crisis in 1997-98. Since last year, Wu has been overseeing the country's interest rate increases and the reform of the foreign exchange regime, as the United States urges China to make its currency more flexible.

Yang Mianmian is one of China's most powerful businesswomen. She became chairwoman and an executive director of Haier in January last year. "Our long-term goal is to become a global top three white goods manufacturer," Yang wrote in an April letter to shareholders.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)