国内英语新闻:Chinese vice premier calls for better services for the disabled

BEIJING, Dec. 4 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang has urged the country to offer better services for the disabled.

Li made the remarks Friday while visiting the Care and Rehabilitation Expo, a three-day international exhibition on equipment to assist disabled and aged people.

Friday marked the International Day for Persons with Disabilities. China's disabled population exceeds 83 million. Li called for more efforts to care for the disabled in a bid to improve their quality of life.

Further, the vice premier said the country would improve laws and regulations regarding the disabled and increase support of policies and fund input to serve the disabled population in better ways.

Better services for disabled people would include improving the quality of public services, making more areas handicapped accessible, and assisting the needy and safeguarding their rights and interests in a bid to solving difficulties in their living, studying, and medical requirements, Li said.

The expo, organized by the China Disabled Persons' Federation and the General Office of the National Aging Committee, brought together more than 200 manufacturers from 17 countries and regions, according to statistics released by the organizing committee.