China will continue to empower persons with disabilities to chase their dreams, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning at a press briefing in Beijing on Tuesday.
China claimed 94 gold, 76 silver and 50 bronze medals at the just concluded 2024 Paris Paralympic Games, topping the medal table for the sixth consecutive time. The spokeswoman congratulated the country's Paralympic delegation for their accomplishments and sportsmanship at the grand sports event.
"Chinese athletes, with their exceptional competitive skills and good qualities, have fully embodied the Paralympic values of determination, equality, inspiration and courage. The outstanding achievements of the Chinese delegation are the result of the athletes' relentless efforts, and also a vivid reflection of the comprehensive development of the cause of the disabled and the continuous improvement in the life of disabled people. In recent years, China has lifted more than 7.1 million rural disabled people out of poverty, and established various special security systems benefiting 20 million plus people with disabilities. The living standards of disabled people in China have increased continuously, their equal rights are better protected, and they have more opportunities to shine in life," said Mao.
"Although the Paris Paralympics have come to an end, the inspiration and emotions they have brought to the world will continue. China will continue to work with the international community to advance the development of the cause of the disabled, enabling more of them to unleash their potential and chase their dreams bravely on their own life paths," she said.
China will continue to empower disabled people in chasing dreams: spokeswoman
A festive atmosphere is building up as people across China have been making preparations to ring in the Spring Festival next week, with lights and decorations set everywhere, and with New Year goods markets all seeing booming sales.
The Spring Festival, which marks the start of the Chinese Lunar New Year, is the most important annual holiday in China, when people across the country return to their hometowns for Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations and family reunion.
In Xi'an City of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, a grand lantern show is in its final stage of preparation before opening to the public ahead of the eve of the 2025 Chinese Lunar New Year. To be lit up on Wednesday, the large light sets presented at the event will draw numerous visitors, with lanterns that replicate 38 cultural relics as the highlight.
Buying New Year flowers has been a custom for Chinese people. In Yancheng City of east China's Jiangsu Province, various flowers which have auspicious meanings are already in high demand.
This year, tulips bred locally have been put on sale, and quickly become a favorable choice for many customers.
"I have never seen this kind of flower before. I think it is really bright-colored. Therefore, I decided to buy some to enhance the festive atmosphere at home," said Zhang Jinjian, a local resident.
The Anchang ancient town in Shaoxing City of east China's Zhejiang Province has a time-honored custom of making aired sausages and spiced duck.
As the Spring Festival draws near, plenty of visitors and tourists choose to purchase these local delicacies as ingredients for their Chinese New Year feast.
"The number of tourists has been increasing, so the sales of our spiced meat have been quite good. Compared with the same period of last year, our sales is expected to increase by about 50,000 yuan (about 6,835 U.S. dollars). We will earn an additional 200,000 to 300,000 yuan (27,335 to 41,000 U.S. dollars) in sales during this whole winter," said Yang Jing, owner of a local spiced meat shop.
In southwest China's Yunnan Province, the "Tiaocai dance" is a time-honored tradition of the Yi ethnic minority group. The dance is presented in the form of serving dishes while dancing to the rhythm. It usually happens on a joyous or grand occasion.
Since the most significant annual festival is around the corner, Yi people have dressed up in traditional costumes, and got ready to welcome the arrival of the Chinese Lunar New Year with the special dance.
People across China make preparations to welcome Spring Festival