أبوظبي
Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, in collaboration with the China Disabled Persons' Federation, organized an extensive meeting on cooperation in the field of disability between China and Arab countries.
Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, in collaboration with the China Disabled Persons' Federation, organized an extensive meeting on cooperation in the field of disability between China and Arab countries. This was part of the Belt and Road Initiative under the theme "Enhancing Practical Cooperation for Comprehensive Development."
The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, aimed to establish an effective mechanism in line with the principles of the initiative, promoting economic participation and comprehensive development for people with disabilities. Participants, including ambassadors and high-level representatives from various Arab countries, as well as representatives from Arab and international disability organizations, experts, and scholars in the field of disability, discussed the current situation of people with disabilities in China and Arab countries. They addressed the challenges faced in integrating into society and the policies and measures adopted by governments in this context.
The focus was on leveraging resources and collaboration opportunities in this field, enhancing practical cooperation to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, sharing experiences, and identifying means to enhance inclusive development benefiting people with disabilities. The participants explored mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information and statistics, including data on disability, relevant laws, and best practices among member state governments, companies, non-governmental organizations, disability organizations, civil society entities, and other stakeholders.
The meeting emphasized collaboration in various areas to enhance knowledge sharing, resources, and best practices related to disability issues. Several areas of cooperation were discussed, including ensuring equal access, achieving comprehensive education and employment, meeting consumer needs, assistive technology, facilitating trade, providing accessible transportation, and ensuring access to information and communication technology. The potential for expanding and exploring new areas of collaboration was also highlighted to complement and build upon the work of existing specialized institutions focusing on disability issues.
Mr. Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organizations highlighted the efforts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in support of people with disabilities. This includes the signing of several international agreements, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in February 2008, ratified in March 2010. The UAE also joined the International Convention on the Rights of the Child in January 1997, which is a significant international document focusing on equality in rights for children, regardless of gender, color, religion, ethnicity, disability, and other aspects of diversity.
He emphasized that the legislation, laws, and institutions in the UAE take into account these requirements, ensuring the provision of rights, protection, and services for people with disabilities. He pointed out that social, educational, and health service institutions, as well as labor laws, buildings, roads, and sports facilities, are all governed by the constitution and laws that consider the rights of children and individuals with disabilities and protect them.
Mr. Abdullah Al Hamedan, the Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, expressed his satisfaction with the positive response from Arab countries to participate in the first meeting to discuss and encourage collaboration in disability affairs between the People's Republic of China and Arab countries. He highlighted that the meeting provides an opportunity to discuss not only economic development but also the social, cultural, and human aspects of communication regarding disability issues.
In his speech during the meeting, Al Hamedan emphasized that this organization embodies the initial fruits of constructive cooperation between Arab countries and the China Disabled Persons' Federation. It complements the successes achieved in the care and rehabilitation of various categories of people with disabilities, allowing them to serve as a serious, effective, and productive model alongside their peers outside that category. This model aligns with the comprehensive development witnessed by the United Arab Emirates.
He stressed the necessity of enhancing joint cooperation with all relevant institutions and bodies at the Arab level to exchange successful initiatives, share best practices, and exchange scientific research in all areas related to disability issues. The aim is to create an effective mechanism for collaborative cooperation for the benefit of people with disabilities in our countries, with the potential to expand and explore new areas of collaboration.
Participants were urged to work together and integrate into the work of existing specialized institutions focusing on disability issues. Al Hamedan emphasized that joint efforts and positive collaboration among all are the way to achieve our desired goals. Through unifying efforts, challenges faced by people with disabilities in our countries can be addressed, and solutions that positively impact life can be innovated.
Mr. Cho Chang Koo, Vice President and Executive Council President of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, expressed his pleasure at being in Abu Dhabi and participating in the meeting on behalf of the Federation within the Belt and Road Initiative. He thanked Zayed Higher Organization for the organization.
He praised the strategic partnership between the Federation and the Organization, noting the significant growth achieved in joint work for the benefit of people with disabilities in the UAE and China through various joint programs and initiatives. He provided an overview of China's efforts for people with disabilities, mentioning that 85 million people, representing 6% of the Chinese population, have disabilities. In 2008, China employed nine million people with disabilities, and 40 million benefited from the government's updates to the systems used, resulting in significant development and support for people with disabilities.
He confirmed that both China and Arab countries have good measures and policies for the benefit of people with disabilities, suggesting that collaborative efforts in this context are possible. He proposed several suggestions for collaboration, including supporting efforts to integrate people with disabilities into societies by removing obstacles, emphasizing the importance of continued global and regional cooperation, and calling for joint action to reduce the occurrence of disabilities and deepen cooperation between China and Arab countries in this field.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the delegation from the China Disabled Persons' Federation visited the headquarters of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination to learn about its experience in caring for and rehabilitating people with disabilities. The delegation also sought to understand the educational, rehabilitative, psychological, and social care services provided to various categories of people with disabilities, as well as the number of beneficiaries of these services. The delegation was keen on gaining insights into the substantial support provided by the leadership of the United Arab Emirates to these groups.
Members of the visiting Chinese delegation attended part of the celebration of the 52nd Union Day of the Agricultural and Vocational Rehabilitation Management at the organization. The visit included a stop at "Café Al Nahla," where the delegation learned about the healthcare services provided by Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination. They toured the Intelligent Robotic Rehabilitation Laboratory, the therapeutic swimming pool, and the horseback riding therapy center. Additionally, the delegation visited various vocational rehabilitation workshops and specialized workshops.
The meeting, held in Abu Dhabi, aimed to establish an effective mechanism in line with the principles of the initiative, promoting economic participation and comprehensive development for people with disabilities. Participants, including ambassadors and high-level representatives from various Arab countries, as well as representatives from Arab and international disability organizations, experts, and scholars in the field of disability, discussed the current situation of people with disabilities in China and Arab countries. They addressed the challenges faced in integrating into society and the policies and measures adopted by governments in this context.
The focus was on leveraging resources and collaboration opportunities in this field, enhancing practical cooperation to achieve comprehensive and sustainable development, sharing experiences, and identifying means to enhance inclusive development benefiting people with disabilities. The participants explored mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of information and statistics, including data on disability, relevant laws, and best practices among member state governments, companies, non-governmental organizations, disability organizations, civil society entities, and other stakeholders.
The meeting emphasized collaboration in various areas to enhance knowledge sharing, resources, and best practices related to disability issues. Several areas of cooperation were discussed, including ensuring equal access, achieving comprehensive education and employment, meeting consumer needs, assistive technology, facilitating trade, providing accessible transportation, and ensuring access to information and communication technology. The potential for expanding and exploring new areas of collaboration was also highlighted to complement and build upon the work of existing specialized institutions focusing on disability issues.
Mr. Sultan Mohammed Al Shamsi, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Development and International Organizations highlighted the efforts of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in support of people with disabilities. This includes the signing of several international agreements, such as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in February 2008, ratified in March 2010. The UAE also joined the International Convention on the Rights of the Child in January 1997, which is a significant international document focusing on equality in rights for children, regardless of gender, color, religion, ethnicity, disability, and other aspects of diversity.
He emphasized that the legislation, laws, and institutions in the UAE take into account these requirements, ensuring the provision of rights, protection, and services for people with disabilities. He pointed out that social, educational, and health service institutions, as well as labor laws, buildings, roads, and sports facilities, are all governed by the constitution and laws that consider the rights of children and individuals with disabilities and protect them.
Mr. Abdullah Al Hamedan, the Secretary-General of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, expressed his satisfaction with the positive response from Arab countries to participate in the first meeting to discuss and encourage collaboration in disability affairs between the People's Republic of China and Arab countries. He highlighted that the meeting provides an opportunity to discuss not only economic development but also the social, cultural, and human aspects of communication regarding disability issues.
In his speech during the meeting, Al Hamedan emphasized that this organization embodies the initial fruits of constructive cooperation between Arab countries and the China Disabled Persons' Federation. It complements the successes achieved in the care and rehabilitation of various categories of people with disabilities, allowing them to serve as a serious, effective, and productive model alongside their peers outside that category. This model aligns with the comprehensive development witnessed by the United Arab Emirates.
He stressed the necessity of enhancing joint cooperation with all relevant institutions and bodies at the Arab level to exchange successful initiatives, share best practices, and exchange scientific research in all areas related to disability issues. The aim is to create an effective mechanism for collaborative cooperation for the benefit of people with disabilities in our countries, with the potential to expand and explore new areas of collaboration.
Participants were urged to work together and integrate into the work of existing specialized institutions focusing on disability issues. Al Hamedan emphasized that joint efforts and positive collaboration among all are the way to achieve our desired goals. Through unifying efforts, challenges faced by people with disabilities in our countries can be addressed, and solutions that positively impact life can be innovated.
Mr. Cho Chang Koo, Vice President and Executive Council President of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, expressed his pleasure at being in Abu Dhabi and participating in the meeting on behalf of the Federation within the Belt and Road Initiative. He thanked Zayed Higher Organization for the organization.
He praised the strategic partnership between the Federation and the Organization, noting the significant growth achieved in joint work for the benefit of people with disabilities in the UAE and China through various joint programs and initiatives. He provided an overview of China's efforts for people with disabilities, mentioning that 85 million people, representing 6% of the Chinese population, have disabilities. In 2008, China employed nine million people with disabilities, and 40 million benefited from the government's updates to the systems used, resulting in significant development and support for people with disabilities.
He confirmed that both China and Arab countries have good measures and policies for the benefit of people with disabilities, suggesting that collaborative efforts in this context are possible. He proposed several suggestions for collaboration, including supporting efforts to integrate people with disabilities into societies by removing obstacles, emphasizing the importance of continued global and regional cooperation, and calling for joint action to reduce the occurrence of disabilities and deepen cooperation between China and Arab countries in this field.
On the sidelines of the meeting, the delegation from the China Disabled Persons' Federation visited the headquarters of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination to learn about its experience in caring for and rehabilitating people with disabilities. The delegation also sought to understand the educational, rehabilitative, psychological, and social care services provided to various categories of people with disabilities, as well as the number of beneficiaries of these services. The delegation was keen on gaining insights into the substantial support provided by the leadership of the United Arab Emirates to these groups.
Members of the visiting Chinese delegation attended part of the celebration of the 52nd Union Day of the Agricultural and Vocational Rehabilitation Management at the organization. The visit included a stop at "Café Al Nahla," where the delegation learned about the healthcare services provided by Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination. They toured the Intelligent Robotic Rehabilitation Laboratory, the therapeutic swimming pool, and the horseback riding therapy center. Additionally, the delegation visited various vocational rehabilitation workshops and specialized workshops.
Page Last Update: 22 December 2023