Zhang Haidi, former chairwoman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) and former president of Rehabilitation International, was appointed honorary president of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. The appointment ceremony took place in Qingdao, Shandong province on Dec 31, 2024.
Zhou ChangKui, secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the CDPF, delivered a speech at the ceremony, while Liu Jun, secretary of the CPC Committee of the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, presided over the event.
In her speech, Zhang said that the University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences is the only university in the world with rehabilitation as its primary focus. She emphasized that rehabilitation is vital to human health, as important as medical care, and plays a crucial role in functional recovery after medical treatment.
She noted the university is deeply rooted in the cause of people with disabilities. Over the 10 years since its inception, it has successfully promoted the concept of rehabilitation, and significantly raised public awareness of rehabilitation. The establishment of the university also reflected an important step in ensuring human rights.
Zhang expressed her hope that the university would continue to maintain high standards, strive for excellence and work towards becoming a world-class institution. She encouraged the faculty to teach with care and urged students to set lofty goals, study diligently and contribute to human health and the alleviation of suffering with a noble humanitarian spirit.
On behalf of the CDPF, Zhou extended warm congratulations to Zhang and expressed sincere gratitude to Shandong provincial government and Qingdao municipal government for their strong support for the cause of people with disabilities. He commended the university's leadership team for their dedication to the university's development.
Zhou praised Zhang for her profound reflections on the high-quality development of care for people with disabilities, particularly her efforts and contributions to the construction of the university. He said that the CDPF will continue to prioritize the development of the university and will work closely with Shandong and Qingdao to accelerate the university's growth.
Officials from the department of education and employment and the international department of the CDPF, as well as representatives from relevant departments in Shandong and Qingdao, the uniersity's leadership team, and a number of faculty and student representatives attended the ceremony.