Full-dress rehearsal for National Para Games' closing ceremony held in Shenzhen

The 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the Ninth Special Olympic Games will conclude on Monday, with a full-dress rehearsal for the closing ceremony held Saturday night at Shenzhen Sports Center.

Lasting approximately 45 minutes, the rehearsal seamlessly integrated artistic performances with core ceremonial elements, including the entrance of sports delegations, flag reception, flag raising, and the singing of national anthem.

The ceremony aims to highlight themes of inclusion and unity, underlining the spirit of perseverance, solidarity, and determination. Messages of harmony between disabled and non-disabled individuals, shared values across the Greater Bay Area, and collective progress were central to the evening's presentation.

A total of 600 performers are participating in the closing ceremony, including about 130 persons with disabilities. Organizers worked to ensure a supportive environment by pairing each visually impaired performer with a non-disabled guide to assist during rehearsals and performances.

Behind the scenes, thoughtful design turns inclusiveness into action. Though visitors will see a simple, elegant stage, hidden modifications make it fully accessible. Traditional stairs have been replaced with ramps on both sides of the stage to accommodate wheelchair users and all performers, and anti-slip carpets have been laid throughout to ensure safety, especially for performers with mobility challenges.

Technical teams are also fine-tuning every detail, including stage visuals and lighting effects.

A total of 7,824 athletes from 34 delegations registered for this year's Games, held for the first time jointly across Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area. The competition includes 1,876 events in 46 sports, with six winter sports already concluded. Highlights also include 131 events in 11 mass-participation sports and 599 events in nine Special Olympics sports.

Under the slogan "Passionate National Games, Vibrant Greater Bay Area," the Games are also being used to promote innovation in assistive technologies. A range of advanced products will be put into use during competition, helping move technologies from laboratories into real-world testing and market application.

Full-dress rehearsal for National Para Games' closing ceremony held in Shenzhen

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng said on Monday that China welcomes foreign enterprises including Warburg Pincus and long-term capital to continue expanding their investment in China and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China.

He, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, made the remarks when meeting with former U.S. Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, now chairman of Warburg Pincus.

The vice premier said that China is fully implementing the guiding principles of the fourth plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, in accordance with the suggestions and arrangements of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and advancing the building of a unified national market, unswervingly expanding high-level opening-up and promoting high-quality economic development.

For his part, Geithner said that he is optimistic about the prospects of China's economic development, and Warburg Pincus is willing to continue to deepen its presence in the Chinese market and promote the deepening of economic and trade cooperation between the United States and China.

China welcomes foreign enterprises, long-term capital to continue expanding investment in China: vice premier