Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of Rehabilitation International (RI) speaks at her inauguration at the RI Congress in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Oct 27. Lin Wei Guang/For China Daily
Zhang Haidi, chairwoman of China Disabled Persons' Federation, became head of Rehabilitation International (RI), a leading global network for the rights and inclusion of the disabled, in Edinburgh on Thursday.
A bestselling writer and translator, Zhang was elected RI's incoming president in 2014.
"Our responsibility is to help as many disabled people as possible with access to rehabilitation, thus to see the light, to hear the sound, to sit, to stand, to walk, to run, to equally integrate into society and live a happy life," Zhang said at the inauguration ceremony before the RI Congress on Thursday.
"It is indeed a tremendous honor for me to work for the RI in this role," she added.
Zhang pledged to make more effort in her four-year tenure to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and promote an equal, sharing and inclusive environment worldwide for people with disabilities.
Born in 1955, Zhang Haidi became paralyzed at the age of five, but she educated herself to the university level before obtaining a master's degree in philosophy from Jilin University. She was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of York in 2013 and by the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2015.
A prolific writer, Zhang's published works include Beautiful English, Dreams in Wheelchair, The Topmost, Enduring as the Universe and collections of short essays.
Zhang is a member of the Standing Committee of the 11th and 12th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and is also head of the Chinese Paralympic delegation.
Zhang's inauguration came as China has rolled out its 13th Five-Year plan (2016-20) which goes further in improving the wellbeing of disabled people.
"China has just entered an important stage with the presidency of a global organization dedicated to rehabilitation and people with disabilities," said outgoing RI president Jan Monsbakken. "I think it's about time for China to hold such position."
An estimated 85 million disabled people live in China, less than a third of whom are registered. According to the federation, China had 7,111 rehabilitation centers as of 2015, with 232,000 employees.
"I'm sure Zhang's succession will intensify the collaboration between China and the world," said Alarcos Cieza, who oversees the World Health Organization's work on Disability and Rehabilitation. "It's important to work together."
Founded in 1922, the New York-headquartered RI network includes people with disabilities, service providers, government agencies, academics and researchers. The RI World Congress, staged every four years, will hold its next convention in Denmark in 2020.
