Disabled persons' federation elects new leadership

BEIJING - Wheelchair-bound female writer Zhang Haidi was re-elected as chairperson of the China Disabled Persons' Federation at the organization's seventh national congress on Sunday.

Zhang was first elected chairwoman in 2008 at the organization's fifth national congress.

Deng Pufang was re-elected as the federation's honorable chairman at the congress, which ran from Friday to Sunday morning.

Eight vice chairpersons were also elected or re-elected at the congress, attended by more than 600 representatives nationwide.

State Councilor Wang Yong attended the closing ceremony and called for development of the country's programs for people with disabilities.

"Poor disabled people in rural areas must be lifted out of poverty as planned. Education and employment of disabled people should be enhanced, and public services, including disability prevention, rehabilitation and construction of barrier-free facilities, should also be improved," Wang said.

Wang also stressed the deepening of international communication and cooperation on disability.