Chinese Taikonauts Friday presented a Shenzhou-6 model as a gift to a blind child, Zhang Xinran, to encourage him study hard, before the International Day of Disabled Persons which falls on Saturday.

Deng Pufang, chairman of the China Federation of the Disabled (CFD), expressed his gratefulness on behalf of the child to Yang Liwei, astronaut of Shenzhou-5, and Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng astronauts of Shenzhou-6, at a charity carnival.

Sun Yan, a blind pianist, gave a performance at the carnival which was also attended by Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and other Chinese senior officials.

The carnival project, initiated by the CFD and the China Council of Lions Clubs in 2003, has financed 2,842 girls and 3,558disabled children to complete their schooling.
 
(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2005)