APEC economies reach out to people with disabilities

To ensure people with disabilities can enjoy equal access and inclusive development in society, 20 APEC economies launched a joint initiative on Monday during the 22nd APEC Economic Leaders' Week.

More than 1 billion people, about 15 percent of the world's population, live with some form of disability. In the Asia-Pacific region, about 650 million people have disabilities.

"We expressed concern that most of them were forced to live in conditions of hardship and poverty, and thus were in great need of social support," the joint initiative said.