China works hard to develop services for the disabled, solve their difficulties, and guarantee their legitimate rights, says a white paper titled the Progress in China's Human Rights in 2009 on Sunday.

"In 2009, the state issued the Measures for Air Transport of Persons with Disabilities, stipulating detailed measures for the rights of this group in the field of air transport," says the document released by the Information Office of the State Council.

At present, the Chinese legislature is working on the Regulations on the Construction of Non-barrier Facilities, Regulations on Disability Prevention and Rehabilitation of Persons with Disabilities, and national standards for classifying disabilities, it says.

In December 2009, China revised the Regulations on the Application for and Use of Motor Vehicle Driving Licenses, loosening the restrictions on the physical conditions of drivers, and making it possible for some of the disabled to drive motor vehicles.

Also in 2009, a pilot project for a new rural pension insurance system was carried out, requiring local governments to pay part or the total amount of the minimum pension insurance premium for rural people with severe disabilities.

"China strives for better rehabilitation services for disabled citizens. Some 6.2 million of them were rehabilitated to different degrees last year,"the report says.

The state invested 711 million yuan (US$106.1 million) in an emergency rehabilitation project for disabled poor children, which benefited nearly 60,000 kids.

Besides, China constantly develops education and more public services for the disabled. By 2009 there were 3,474 homes for people with disabilities throughout the country, where 110,000 disabled people were taken care of.

(Xinhua News Agency September 26, 2010)