A seminar titled "Sharing Development Rights: China's Practices in Poverty Reduction for Disabled Persons" was held on Thursday at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome to promote the inclusive development of persons with disabilities.
Held on the sidelines of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, the event was co-hosted by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, China International Communications Group, and the Permanent Mission of China to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture.
Nearly 100 guests attended the event, including representatives from various countries' permanent missions to the UN agencies for food and agriculture, as well as officials, experts and scholars from Italian institutions.
Attendees exchanged views on China's practices and experiences in poverty reduction for persons with disabilities and explored pathways to promote their inclusive development.
Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation and leader of the Chinese delegation to the Milan-Cortina 2026 Paralympic Winter Games, said in his speech that the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government have made poverty alleviation for persons with disabilities a key component of the country's fight against poverty.
Through unremitting efforts, 7.1 million impoverished persons with disabilities in rural areas have been lifted out of absolute poverty. This has paved a path for poverty reduction and prevention among those impoverished by disabilities, one that is rooted in China's national conditions and tailored to its realities, Chen noted.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said in his address that China's practices and achievements in poverty reduction for persons with disabilities provide valuable references for international organizations and developing countries. The FAO stands ready to maintain close cooperation with China in relevant fields, he added.
"(The event allowed us) to learn more about all the efforts and the achievements of the policies, including integrating persons with disabilities in China, in rural areas. It was really interesting to learn, and there is much room for cooperation with Brazil in this area," said Tatiana Gomes Bustamante, deputy permanent representative of Brazil to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture.
During the event, Cheng, on behalf of the China Disabled Persons' Federation, presented the FAO with Chinese and English copies of a book titled "The Chinese Solution to Poverty Caused by Disabilities," along with a piece of traditional Han embroidery titled "Food in Hand, Peace in Mind," handcrafted by women with disabilities.
The event also included the screening of a short video on China's poverty reduction efforts for persons with disabilities and an exhibition displaying handicrafts made by women with disabilities from Chinese cities and provinces such as Beijing, Hubei, and Yunnan.
China shares insights on poverty reduction for disabled people at UN seminar in Rome
