Premier Li Keqiang recently urged enhancing the vocational skills of people with disabilities and increasing their employment rates.

Premier Li made the remarks in an instruction to the sixth national vocational skills competition for people with disabilities and the third national vocational skill exhibition for people with disabilities held in Jiaxing, East China’s Zhejiang province, on Oct 27.

In the instruction, the Premier praised people with disabilities for their spirit of struggle, hard work and achievements.

Governments at all levels and related departments should make relentless efforts to help people with disabilities improve their vocational skills, said the Premier.

Regulations and laws concerning their employment should be fully carried out, and vocational education and training for people with disabilities should be strengthened, he said.

More advice and guidance should be provided to help them find jobs and start businesses, and focus should be put on eliminating obstacles in their employment and entrepreneurship, according to the instruction.

Efforts should also be made to help people with disabilities in rural areas to shake off poverty, said the instruction.

State Councilor Wang Yong, also the director of State Council working committee on disability, inaugurated the competition and exhibition and attended relevant activities.

Around 900 people with disabilities from across the country will participate in 26 contests focusing on information communication, fine art and services. The competition is held by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, China Disabled Person’s Federation, and the Zhejiang provincial government.