A delegation from the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) led by You Liang, vice-chairperson of the Board of Executive Directors of the CDPF, visited Japan upon the invitation of the Japan-China Friendship Center from Aug 5 to 9to facilitate exchanges on disability affairs between Chinese and Japanese youth.
During the visit, the delegation members met with officials from Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and were briefed by officials from its Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare on policies and facilities for persons with disabilities.
They participated in discussions on special education and vocational training for people with disabilities at the Tokyo Metropolitan Mizumotokohai School. In Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, the delegation learned about the preparations for the 2026 Asian Para Games and shared Chinese experience in hosting the Hangzhou Asian Para Games. They also engaged in discussions on the integrated development of employment for persons with disabilities at the factory of Quon Chocolate and learned about Japan’s barrier-free facilities, including those on the streets and for public restrooms.
Tsuge Yoshifumi, Japanese vice foreign minister, and Hideaki Ohmura, governor of Aichi Prefecture, met with the Chinese delegation during their stay in Japan. Both sides acknowledged the expanding cooperation between China and Japan in disability affairs, citing new milestones in recent years, and emphasized the importance of implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries to further strengthen practical cooperation in this field.
Since 2022, disability affairs have been included in the China-Japan Youth Friendship Exchange Program. This exchange trip to Japan is themed on "building an inclusive society for the active participation of persons with disabilities." The delegation is made up of 29 members, 18 of whom are young representatives with disabilities recommended by the CDPF and disabled persons’ federations of Heilongjiang, Zhejiang, Guangdong and Sichuan provinces.