A nationwide campaign of cultural activities for people with disabilities was launched in Nanchang, Jiangxi province on April 22. Cheng Kai, chairman of the China Disabled Persons' Federation (CDPF) attended the opening ceremony. Zhang Weixing, vice-chairman of the CDPF, and Sun Hongshan, vice-governor of Jiangxi, attended and addressed the event.
In Zhang's speech, he noted that 2026 marks the first year of the implementation of the regulation to promote reading among the public. Ensuring that persons with disabilities share the joy of reading and the beauty of culture is a vital step toward building up China's cultural strength, facilitating social progress, and fostering shared prosperity in cultural and spiritual life.
Promoting reading among people with disabilities is a social practice that breaks down barriers and advances inclusion, making equal participation a defining feature. It provides cultural nourishment that empowers individuals and gives back to society, establishing self-reliance as a spiritual symbol. It also highlights the original aspiration and warms people's lives, with institutional care serving as a solid safeguard, said Zhang.
Zhang urged to protect reading rights, foster a book-friendly atmosphere, and deeply integrate accessible reading into the nationwide reading campaign. Focus should also be placed on targeted services to make reading inclusive and shared, cultivating distinctive brands to energize reading activities, and strengthening tech-driven empowerment to open up new accessible reading spaces, he said.
The 2026 nationwide campaign of cultural activities for people with disabilities is jointly organized by the CDPF, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Press and Publication Administration. Running from April to November, the campaign will feature a wide array of localized cultural activities tailored for people with disabilities.
The launch event in Jiangxi highlighted the province's achievements in fostering cultural integration between the disabled and the broader community. Students from Nanchang Special Education School took the stage to recite literary classics.
During the event, a themed reading campaign was held. Major publishing and media institutions, including the China Braille Press and the Administration Center of Digital Film Content donated accessible reading materials and audio-described films to Nanchang Special Education School.
On the sidelines, the Jiangxi Disabled Persons' Federation held thematic exhibitions and exchanges on cultural and creative products and calligraphy and painting by persons with disabilities, accessible culture, and technology-assisted empowerment for the disabled.
Guests view an exhibition of cultural and creative products made by persons with disabilities during the launch ceremony in Nanchang, Jiangxi province on April 22, 2026. [Image: Xinhua]
Visually impaired performers sing a song at the launch ceremony in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, April 22, 2026. [Image: Xinhua]
Young performers recite a poem at the launch ceremony in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, April 22, 2026. [Image: Xinhua]
Hearing-impaired performers presented an excerpt from a classic Kunqu Opera at the launch ceremony in Nanchang, Jiangxi province, April 22, 2026. [Image: Xinhua]