Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Thursday urged to speed up building a system of social welfare and public services for the disabled, in an effort to improve their living conditions.
Hui said at the plenary session of the State Council Coordination Committee on Disability that a complete system of social welfare and public services is the fundamental move to help the disabled share the fruit of China's economic development.
Chinese people have shown unprecedented enthusiasm to help the disabled since 2008, when China successfully held the Beijing Paralympics and improved work of organizations for the disabled, Hui said.
Hui stressed that the building of a social welfare and public services system should be incorporated into China's overall plan on the social welfare system and equal public services.
The government would play a "leading" role in building such a system, with participation from the society such as market promotions, he said.
The aim of the system is to help all the disabled persons gain access to basic public services, and finally help them get employment, payment, medical care, pensions and housing, said Hui.
Hui asked governments at all levels and relevant departments to overcome the difficulties in work related to the disabled and solve the problems in a timely manner.
(Xinhua News Agency March 28, 2009)