BEIJING, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- China will increase the effectiveness and coverage of systems designed to provide subsidies and medical insurance for the country's disabled people, an official vowed on Friday.

"Efforts should be made to ensure that disabled people need not worry about their sustenance, housing, education and medical costs, and to ensure they have opportunities to participate in social activities," said Cheng Kai, vice chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, at a media briefing.

According to a document issued at the briefing, China has about 85 million disabled people, with 12.3 million of them living below the poverty line in rural areas while 2.6 million of them are urbanites classified as having "life difficulties."