Rehabilitation International (RI) President and China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) Chairperson Zhang Haidi attended the launch ceremony on June 30 of a project helping persons with disabilities in Beijing's Yanqing district to achieve common prosperity. Zhang also made an address at the ceremony.

Zhang took part in the activity at the invitation of Beate Trankmann, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative for China, and Luo Zhaohui, Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), who both delivered a speech at the ceremony, along with representatives of the Yanqing government.

The project is a joint venture between UNDP and CIDCA, and aims to provide vocational training and suitable employment for persons with disabilities in Yanqing. 

In her address, Zhang pointed out that with the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, protecting the rights and interests of persons with disabilities, creating an inclusive and friendly social environment for them, and leaving no one behind, have become the consensus and goals of the international community.

RI has carried out more than 30 projects benefiting persons with disabilities around the world. In 2019, the RI Award for Outstanding Achievements was established and, for the first time, awarded to individuals and organizations that have made contributions to resolving issues related to people with disabilities, having a positive impact on the disability community, Zhang said.

CDPF and RI are ready to deepen exchanges and cooperation with UNDP and CIDCA to carry out more quality projects and to work together to realize the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and a better future for persons with disabilities, Zhang noted.

Zhang added that the Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of people with disabilities, including their affairs in the overall plan for national economic and social development and promoting their all-round development and common prosperity.

By the end of 2020, more than 7 million people with disabilities who lived under the poverty line in China had been lifted out of absolute poverty, as scheduled. 

The country attaches importance to the development of rehabilitation, education, and employment for persons with disabilities, creating more opportunities and possibilities, improving their economic and social status, and thus laying a better foundation for their integration into society, Zhang added.

Since 2015, more than 90,000 students with disabilities have been enrolled in institutions of higher learning. The government encourages persons with disabilities to find jobs and start their own businesses. Through training in various skills, they can boost their chances of employment and increase their families' incomes, according to Zhang.

For instance, Beautiful Crafts Workshops have been built to help teach women with disabilities how to sew, embroider, weave, and do paper cutting.

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