China has achieved notable progress in promoting the employment of people with disabilities during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021 - 2025), with 9.019 million disabled individuals currently employed nationwide.
A total of 2.31 million disabled people were newly employed in both urban and rural areas during the five-year period, according to data released at a press conference in Beijing on Tuesday.
According to an official from the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF), the scale and quality of the employment of people with disabilities have seen significant improvements in recent years, especially under the "Three-Year Action Plan to Promote Employment for Persons with Disabilities" (2022–2024).
In the 14th Five-Year Plan period, more than 400,000 new jobs are offered to disabled people annually. The overall employment rate for people with disabilities rose by nearly 5 percentage points.
The quality of employment of disabled people has also improved. Over the past five years, the number of people with disabilities working in proportionally inclusive positions which offer greater stability and higher income has increased by more than 20 percent. Additionally, 2.17 million individuals with disabilities received vocational skills training, further boosting job readiness and long-term employment prospects.
Looking ahead, the federation pledged to make employment promotion a key focus in the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030). Efforts will include strengthened policy support, enhanced employment services, and expanded training opportunities to ensure more people with disabilities will contribute to Chinese modernization.
More people with disabilities employed during 2021-2025: official data
The U.S. military strike against Venezuela and capture of its president, Nicolas Maduro, has shocked the international community, triggering a steady stream of condemnation and serious concerns worldwide.
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay and Spain issued a joint statement on Sunday, expressing serious concern about and firm opposition to the U.S. unilateral military operations in Venezuela.
The U.S. actions contravene fundamental principles of international law, particularly the prohibition on the use or threat of force, and respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of States, as enshrined in the UN Charter, constituting an extremely dangerous precedent against peace and regional security, according to the statement.
In expressing profound concern and firm rejection, the six countries stressed in the statement that the situation in Venezuela must be resolved exclusively by peaceful means, and through dialogue, negotiation and respect for the will of the Venezuelan people in all its expressions, without external interference and in accordance with international law.
Only an inclusive political process, led by Venezuelans, can lead to a democratic, sustainable solution that respects human dignity, according to the statement.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned the U.S. raid in Venezuela as a violation of international law, adding that the Spanish government always advocates and defends international law and peaceful resolution of conflicts.
Addressing a meeting of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez demanded the unconditional and immediate release of Maduro and his wife.
Noting that Latin America and the Caribbean are a zone of peace, he expressed his firm opposition to the use of force, which is an unshakable principle.
Any aggression against Venezuela shall be regarded as an attack against all CELAC member states, and nations must collectively oppose it, he stressed.
The South African government denounced the U.S. attack on Venezuela as a violation of international law, according to a statement released on Sunday.
History has repeatedly demonstrated that military invasions against sovereign states yield only instability and deepening crisis, the statement said.
South Africa calls on the UN Security Council to urgently convene a session to address this situation, according to the statement.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said what happened in Venezuela demonstrates that international law and the UN Charter are losing their practical effectiveness.
U.S. military action against Venezuela marks a dangerous precedent, as similar actions could be taken against any other nations, he said.
In addition, the foreign ministries of Namibia, Singapore, Oman and Pakistan also issued statements on the same day, expressing grave concern over U.S. interference in Venezuela's internal affairs.
They emphasized the need to uphold international law and the principles of the UN Charter while respecting Venezuela's sovereignty.
They also called on all parties to exercise restraint and resolve the crisis through peaceful dialogue.
U.S. move against Venezuela sparks condemnation, concerns worldwide
