The China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) held the fifth plenary session of its seventh Presidium both online and offline on July 8. The work report delivered by President of the Executive Board Zhou Changkui was heard and adopted. Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the CDPF, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

Zhang Haidi, chairperson of the China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF), speaks at the fifth plenary session of the CDPF’s seventh Presidium, on July 8, 2022. [photo/ cdpf.org.cn]

Zhang pointed out that 2021 was a year of historical significance. The 7 million-plus people registered with a disability in China had shaken off absolute poverty and entered a moderately prosperous society. The central authorities stressed the need to accelerate disability undertakings and released the protection and development plan for the disabled during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. The Chinese para-athletes excelled at the Tokyo Paralympic Games and the Beijing Winter Paralympic Games, and won honors for the country and the people.

She stressed the importance of keeping pushing forward the construction of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, accelerating talent fostering and improving rehabilitation services and their capacity. She further stated that efforts were also needed to consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation for people with disabilities, improve care services and their quality of life, enhance employment services, and elevate barrier-free construction by leveraging the successful hosting of the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Disabled persons’ federations across all levels were urged to full-heartedly serve persons with disabilities, strengthen team building and resolutely eliminate formalities and bureaucratism, while giving full play to the roles of associations and institutions of the disabled, perform their bridging role between the government and disabled people, and strive to include disability undertaking in the overall plan for socioeconomic development.

The China Disabled Persons’ Federation (CDPF) holds the fifth plenary session of its seventh Presidium both online and offline, on July 8, 2022. [photo/ cdpf.org.cn]

The meeting acknowledged the work of the Executive Board since 2021, which provided a good kick start for disability work in the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period. It emphasized the need to fully implement the central authorities’ instructions on disability work and to propel high-quality and comprehensive developments to achieve common prosperity for people with disabilities.