BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Chinese government is working hard to help the country's handicapped population achieve the goal of "equality, participation and sharing" and to enjoy as affluent a life as others.

　　Deng Pufang, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation(CDPF), made the remark in a work report delivered to the Fourth Congress of the CDPF, which opened in Beijing Monday.

　　Deng urged people not to forget the fact that currently there are 60 million persons with disabilities and these people have over 200 million family members. The handicapped group want to enjoy an affluent life with the rest of the Chinese people, he noted.

　　Although people with disabilities only make up five percent of the national population, the number of the jobless among handicapped people accounts for one-third of the total, Deng said,adding that the living conditions are lower than the average levelof the total population, he said.

　　In the first 20 years of this century, China will try to improve the basic conditions of disabled people, respect and protect their rights, improve their ethical and cultural quality, make their development parallel with others, enjoy better public services, and improve the law concerning the protection of the handicapped, according to the CDPF chairman.

　　As different areas in the country enjoy different stages of development, Deng expressed his hope that developed cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Tianjin take the lead in helping disabled people reach the goal of prosperity in the near future. Enditem

China working on law to ensure employment for handicapped people

　　BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- China is working on the Provisions on the Protection of the Employment of Handicapped People, in an effort to ensure the rights of labor and employment for the handicapped population, one of the most vulnerable groups in the country.

　　This was disclosed Monday by Deng Pufang, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), at the opening of the Fourth Congress of the federation.

　　In the coming five years, the CDPF will participate in draftingand promulgating the law, while stepping up efforts on the professional training of handicapped people and promoting their employment through various means, Deng noted.

　　Efforts will be made to provide social security insurance for all persons with disabilities and Medicare for those who are handicapped, poverty-stricken and jobless, he said.

　　Deng called for greater efforts to improve the law and better protect the legal rights of the disabled. NGOs and private donors are encouraged to assist the handicapped population, he said.

　　According to the CDPF leader, China has 60 million disabled people, about 84 percent of whom are employed. With the help of the government and all parties concerned, 4.99 million handicappedpeople who were regarded as suffering from great difficulties havehad their worries about their basic needs relieved, he said. Enditem

Annan praises China's efforts to help disabled people

　　BEIJING, Sept. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- In a message delivered to the Fourth Congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), which was opened here Monday, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke highly of China's efforts to assist the country's 60 million handicapped people.

　　Annan's message said: "You raised public awareness during the International Decade of Disabled Persons. Your NGO forum in 2000 helped to advance international dialogue on the rights of persons with disabilities. You are strongly supporting the elaboration of an international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities. And your efforts to mobilize disabled people, volunteers and others are demonstrating the vital importance of participation in the decisions affecting their lives."

　　Annan stressed that disabled men, women and children, as well as their families, relatives and communities, can and must be involved in all aspects of disability programs, from policy-makingto the implementation and evaluation of projects.

　　The congress is a valuable opportunity to share best practices,strengthen China's advocacy and deepen the partnerships -- within China and with the international community -- that are essential for achieving "our common goals", he noted.

　　The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP) also sent a message to congratulate the congress. It places the Chinese government as among the strongest supporters ofthe elaboration process of an international convention to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities. Enditem