Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu on Saturday called on nationwide efforts to give wholehearted help to disabled persons around the country.

 

Extending greetings to China's over 60 million disabled persons and their families and gratitude to those participated in the second national sample survey of disabled persons, Hui said the whole society should learn more about the disabled people's living conditions and needs.

 

"We must do more for disabled persons and help them overcome difficulties," Hui said while visiting the disabled in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province, on the 16th National Day for Helping the Disabled which falls on Saturday.

 

The sample survey will help improve the formulation of laws, regulations and policies for them, and provide basis for the government to make policy decision on economic and social development, he said.

 

The survey, beginning on April 1 this year, has been going on smoothly and in accordance with its timetable as 60,000 investigators are busy visiting 2.6 million households in cities and villages.

 

So far, the investigators have completed half of their household interviews, according to an official with the China Disabled Persons' Federation.

 

The survey will be conducted in 724 counties throughout the country, and every county has selected eight smaller zones, each with 420-450 residents, in both urban and rural areas. All the samples were selected randomly, said Feng Shi, a public relations official of the federation in charge of the survey.

 

The result of the sample survey is scheduled to be made public next year.

 

China's first survey of disabled persons was carried out in 1987.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 22, 2006)