Vice premier urges equal access for disabled

BEIJING, Feb. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu has called for equal access for the country's disabled people to participate in the social life and to enjoy the benefits of the country's development.

Hui made the remarks at a conference on the work to assist the disabled here Wednesday.

Efforts should be made to narrow the gap in living standard between the disabled and the average people in the society, Hui said.

He also called on the government to improve relevant policies to ensure and promote the employment situation for the disabled as well as to provide better education and cultural services for them.

The work to assist the disabled should be focused on those who live in the rural areas, Hui said.

He called on the officials in charge of the work to better understand the lives and works of the disabled, hear more carefully the voices of them and give more considerations of them.

He also urged more preferential policies to support the disabled people.