China to improve accessibility of disabled

BEIJING - The central government issued a new regulation on Tuesday to improve accessibility environment for disabled people.

Parking lots, commercial centers, living quarters, transportation facilities and other public infrastructure facilities must be accessible for disabled people, according to a regulation posted on the central government's website.

The regulation, which goes into effect on August 1, encourages public venues to offer free services for the disabled.

An official from the legislative affairs office of the State Council said the construction of facilities for the disabled is intended to allow the disabled population to benefit from China's economic and social development.

Under the regulation, government administrations above the county level will be required to create renovation plans that call for the installation of disabled-friendly facilities in public venues.

In addition, the regulation orders government administrations above the county level to give priority to development of special education organizations, as well as rehabilitation and social welfare institutions.

Given the country's rural-urban development gap, villages and townships will be given time to catch up with counties and cities. Construction standards in townships and villages should gradually come to resemble those specified in the regulation, it reads.

Official statistics show that China has 85 million people with some form of disability. Last year, the government issued a five-year blueprint for improving the lives of the disabled.