GENEVA, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday echoed a UN special rapporteur at the 43rd session of the UN Human Rights Council, stressing that persons with disabilities are members of the big family of society.

During an interactive dialogue with the UN special rapporteur on the rights of persons with disabilities, Liu Hua, special representative for human rights of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, highlighted raising public awareness of disabled people, respecting and protecting personal autonomy, the right to life and the right to personal integrity of them, and promoting their participation in decision-making.

There are 85 million disabled people in China, Liu said, adding that they have the desire and ability to participate in social life, and are creators of material and intellectual wealth of the society.

The Chinese government attaches great importance to the cause of people with disabilities, which has been integrated into the overall national development strategy, Liu noted.

"China follows the purposes and principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, (and) has developed a framework of law and regulations for the protection of the rights and interests of persons with disabilities," she said.

According to Liu, these laws and regulations include the Constitution of the People's Republic of China, the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Protection of Persons with Disabilities, the Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, the Regulations on the Education of Persons with Disabilities, the Regulations on the Employment of Persons with Disabilities, and the Regulations on the Building of an Accessible Environment.

The Chinese diplomat told the UN council that China has adopted measures to actively promote the realization of the political rights of persons with disabilities, promote the construction of a barrier-free environment in urban and rural areas, and eliminate barriers to social participation of the disabled.

China has also incorporated the cultural and sports undertakings of persons with disabilities into the national public cultural and sports service system, vigorously promoted the traditional virtues and humanitarian spirit of the Chinese nation and strengthened the whole society's awareness of helping people with disabilities.