An event on programs for people with disabilities under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative was held on Oct 10 in Beijing. State Councilor Wang Yong, who is also head of the State Council's working committee for the disabled, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Wang said that programs for people with disabilities have been improved and gained outstanding achievements in the 70 years since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 2012, the Party and the government have attached greater importance on programs for people with disabilities. Thus, security for the disabled has been constantly improving, and they have had a clear stronger ability of self-development and social participation. China’s legal system on the protection of rights and interests of the disabled has been further improved, with intensifying international communication and cooperation, playing an increasingly important role in international programs for people with disabilities.

“The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping is a great platform for inclusive development. Under its framework, countries and regions should insist on being inclusive and on mutual benefits to promote joint development,” said Wang.

According to Wang, countries and regions should learn from each other, help construct and benefit from each other, and jointly encourage people with disabilities to participate in social affairs and share the social outcomes, which is a part of modern civilization. He also stressed that pragmatic cooperation in fields such as rehabilitation and assistive devices should be deepened to better promote international exchanges and cooperation on programs for people with disabilities.

After the opening ceremony, Wang visited the Care & Rehabilitation Expo China 2019.