UNITED NATIONS, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Ma Zhaoxu on Tuesday called for "shared development" across the globe to address the issue of persons with disabilities.
"In the era of globalization, we must follow the principle of shared development ... and work together to promote the development of the global cause of persons with disabilities," said Ma at a side event on disability data subject.
The 11th session of the Conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is scheduled to be held on June 12-14.
The convention, adopted in 2006 with 177 ratifications, is one of the most widely-ratified international human rights treaties.
Ma said "persons with disabilities are equal members of the human family. The issue of persons with disabilities is an important one that we should face together."
Twenty percent of the world's poorest people have disabilities and 80 percent of them live in developing countries, he said.
The Chinese envoy called for increased support for developing countries and the least developed ones in particular, to help them build up their capacity so that they can attain a higher level of economic and social development.
He further stressed that all countries should endeavor to find a path suited to their own national conditions in addressing the needs of those with disabilities.
With more than 85 million persons with disabilities, China has the largest population with disabilities in the world. As the largest developing country, the envoy said, China faces unparalleled challenges when it comes to persons with disabilities.
"It is our unshirkable responsibility to guarantee equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in social life, and share the material and cultural achievements of the society," Ma said.
In pursuit of the concept of people-centered development, the Chinese government has created a working mechanism of coordination that is government-led and involves all sectors of society.
"It extensively mobilizes all social groups and taps all the resources of the society to be a part of and give support to the cause of persons with disabilities," Ma said.
