China's top political advisor Wang Huning on Friday urged political advisors to intensify research and consultation to offer valuable suggestions for advancing the cause of people with disabilities.
Wang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made these remarks while presiding over a biweekly consultation session of the national committee.
Wang underlined that ensuring a happy and fulfilling life for people with disabilities is an essential requirement for promoting Chinese modernization.
He called upon political advisors to focus on the new situations and challenges in advancing the cause for such individuals while urging more targeted and practical proposals based on thorough investigations and research.
Democratic oversight should be strengthened to ensure the effective implementation of policies supporting those with disabilities, Wang noted.
Several national political advisors also made their remarks during the session. They called for efforts to create unobstructed career development pathways for people with disabilities, advance research and application of assistive technologies, and enhance the quality of public services to continuously improve their quality of life.
China's top political advisor stresses boosting services for people with disabilities
A remote village on China's southwestern border, where many residents only became Chinese citizens two decades ago, has been dramatically transformed by government-backed tourism initiatives and modern infrastructure development.
Daman Village, nestling in the mountains of Gelong Town in southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past few years. What's so special about this village is that out of its 89 households, 57 were officially granted Chinese citizenship in 2003. Now, thanks to significant government investment, the village is becoming a burgeoning tourist destination.
The newly completed mountain-view guesthouses, which represent one of the key government-funded projects, offer breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks draped in mist from their balcony.
"The total investment so far has exceeded 60 million yuan (about 8.55 million U.S. dollars). We're also constructing a tourist reception center and renovating many homes into guesthouses. This project marks the largest one we've undertaken since the villagers became Chinese citizens 20 years ago. It will not only boost local employment but also significantly increase incomes," said Kunchok Dorjee, Party Secretary of Chongdui Village, which administers Daman Village.
This sum of money represents the largest government investment in Daman Village since its formal establishment. Beyond tourism, the funding has been used to rebuild the homes of all 89 families.
Daman, meaning "cavalry" in Tibetan, traces its roots back to Gurkha soldiers native to ancient Nepal who, after allegedly losing a battle with the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) forces, became separated from their main army and remained stranded along the border.
For generations, their descendants roamed the borderlands between China, Nepal and India, without nationality or official status. Their long journey as a stateless people finally ended in 2003 when the Chinese government granted them citizenship, classifying them as Tibetan.
Xu Hongbin, originally from Chengdu City of southwest China's Sichuan Province, married a local woman from Daman Village. Reflecting on his first visit to the area a decade ago, Xu marveled at the changes the village has experienced in such a short period.
"A decade ago, there was only one road into the town. Now there are at least four. Everywhere you look, there are new buildings, guesthouses and restaurants. The development has been incredibly fast," he said.
Tourism fuels transformation in border village as residents mark 20 years of citizenship
