The following is the full text of a toast by Chinese President Hu Jintao at the welcoming luncheon of the Beijing Paralympic Games on Saturday.
Promote the Paralympic Movement and Join Hands to Build a Better World
Toast by Hu Jintao
President of the People's Republic of China
At the Welcoming Luncheon of The Beijing Paralympic Games
6 September 2008
Sir Philip Craven, President of the International Paralympic Committee,Distinguished Members of the Governing Board of the International Paralympic Committee,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
The grand opening of the Beijing Paralympic Games will be held this evening. On behalf of the Chinese government and people, I wish to extend to you a warm welcome and express heartfelt thanks to all those who have worked for the Beijing Paralympic Games.
Since the 1960s when the first Paralympic Games was held and thanks to the concerted efforts of the international community, the Paralympic Games has become an important cultural and sports event that helps enhance mutual understanding and friendship among the people and promote human civilization. Over 4,000 athletes from more than 140 countries and regions will participate in the Beijing Paralympic Games. This fully demonstrates the global care and support for sports for people with a disability.
"Spirit in Motion" is the motto of the Paralympic Movement. By participating in the Games, Paralympians from around the world display self-esteem, self-confidence, self-improvement and self-support. They share joy, forge friendships, realize dreams and experience success. They challenge themselves and bring out the value of life. The Paralympic Movement inspires people with and without a disability to interact in the same global family, enjoy equal rights in the society and build a harmonious world together.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
Care for people with a disability is an important hallmark of a civilized and progressive society. There are 83 million people with a disability in China. The Chinese Government and people have always attached importance to their well-being. We follow the principle of putting people first and advocate a humanitarian spirit. We stand for equality, oppose discrimination, care for the vulnerable and respect human rights. We have adopted a range of policies and measures to encourage public care and support for people with a disability and actively promote their overall well-being, and our achievements have been recognized by all. For their part, people with a disability in China have constantly strived to improve themselves and become stronger. They have made outstanding contributions to economic and social development in China and earned the respect of the whole society. The Beijing Paralympic Games is an opportunity for us to further promote the humanitarian spirit, protect the rights and interests of people with a disability and ensure that they share the benefits of economic and social development as equal members of the society.
The Chinese Government attaches great importance to the development of sports for people with a disability, and China has been an active participant in the Paralympic Movement. Since winning the bid to host the Paralympic Games in Beijing in 2001, the Chinese Government and people have, with the strong support of the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) and the international community, earnestly fulfilled our solemn commitments to the world. We have set the goal of "two Games with equal splendor" and, guided by the concept of "transcendence, integration and equality," made the utmost effort in the preparation for the Games. I am confident that, with the support of the IPC and the world at large, we will deliver a high-standard Paralympic Games with distinctive features.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,
"One World, One Dream" is the slogan of both the Beijing Olympic Games and Paralympic Games. I believe that, the Beijing Paralympic Games will provide an opportunity for people with a disability from all over the world to deepen mutual understanding and friendship, and will leave a rich legacy to the development of sports for people with a disability. Let's join hands to promote the well-being of people with a disability and make the world a better place!
I now propose a toast,
To the crowning success of the Beijing Paralympic Games,
To the continued growth of the Paralympic Movement,
To greater solidarity and friendship among people from all over the world, and
To the health of all the distinguished guests present.
Cheers!
(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)