China is committed to safeguard the rights and interests of people with disabilities by improving the public service system and increasing products, Premier Li Keqiang said on Oct 29.

Premier Li made his remarks at an Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) also attended by visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Premier proposed last year including the affairs of the disabled in ASEM’s cooperative framework at the 10th ASEM summit in Milan, Italy.

“I’m glad that it has already produced substantive achievements, which will help drive social development of member states and improve human rights,” he said.

Premier Li added that the Chinese government has been implementing goals laid down in the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Premier said the assistive device industry will bring extensive economic and social benefits, and hoped German enterprises will further collaborate with Chinese counterparts.

“The upgrade of ‘Made in China’ and ‘Made in Germany’ is expected to boost cooperation between Asian and European countries on the affairs of the disabled,” he said.

Merkel said cooperation on the affairs of the disabled under the ASEM framework has opened a new window for China-Germany relations, which has bright prospects.

“Germany is willing to work with China to exchange ideas, explore new models and help China’s efforts to protect disabled people,” she said.