China holds national congress for disabled _English

The fifth national congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Nov. 11, 2008. CDPF started the three-day national congress Tuesday morning to discuss goals for helping the country's disabled in the next five years. Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other state leaders including Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang attended the opening ceremony. (Xinhua/Li Tao)
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　BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday urged authorities nationwide to make more preferential policies for the disabled and to invest more in building public facilities for the disabled.

Li also called on society to practice the traditional Chinese virtues of understanding, respect and care for the disabled.

He was speaking at the opening of the China Disabled Persons Federation (CDPF) three-day national congress to discuss goals for help the disabled over the next five years.

Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang deliveres an address on behalf of central leadership in which he urged the disabled to work hard for a better life and future at the opening ceremony of the fifth national congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, November 11, 2008.(Xinhua/Li Tao)
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On behalf of the country's central leadership, Li expressed gratitude to people who had supported work for the disabled, and urged the disabled to work hard for a better life and future.

China had made brilliant achievements in working with the disabled over the past 30 years, he said.

The remarkable performance of Chinese athletes at the Beijing Paralympic Games in September and the Shanghai 2007 Special Olympics had demonstrated the development of China's disabled cause, he said.

Disabled workers had made remarkable contributions to China's economic development, showcasing the country's respect for human rights, he said.

Li urged organizations, at all levels, to provide the country's disabled with more help and services and to strive for their interests and appeals.

According to the agenda, 630 delegates representing China's 83 million disabled people, will hear and discuss a work report by the CDPF. After debate, the plan is to adopt amendments to the federation's constitution.

　 Deng Pufang, chairman of the CDPF, said at the congress that the federation would enhance construction of its local branches.

A five-year plan for China's disabled work from 2005 to 2010 has outlined plans for a complete a nationwide network of branches by 2010.

By the end of last year, 90 percent of the branches in urban areas and 40 percent in rural regions had been established.

The federation employed more than 94,000 full-time staff and more than 400,000 volunteers in urban communities and villages.

Deng urged branches and all the people working with the disabled to make all-out efforts to improve services.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao and other state leaders, including Jia Qinglin, Li Changchun, Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, He Guoqiang and Zhou Yongkang, attended the opening ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

The CDPF holds a national congress every five years.

The fifth national congress of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) opens at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, on Nov. 11, 2008.(Xinhua Photo)
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