Editor’s Note

In 2025, Beijing continued to explore new ideas and methods for people-to-people diplomacy, making positive contributions to serving China’s overall diplomacy, supporting the high-quality development of the capital city, and strengthening people-to-people bond between China and the rest of the world. At the 2026 Meeting on People-to-People Diplomacy of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, a number of organizations with strong commitment and notable results shared their best practices. Today, let us walk you through the splendid story of the Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation and explore the unique appeal of people-to-people diplomacy.

Leveraging its strengths, the Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation has expanded channels for international exchanges and cooperation, and has worked to serve China’s overall diplomacy and promote people-to-people friendship and exchanges.

01 Expanding Diverse Exchange Channels and Improving the Outcome of International Exchanges

In November 2025, Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, and Queen Letizia, who accompanied King Felipe VI of Spain on his state visit to China, visited the Beijing Demonstration Center of Service for Persons with Disabilities. They listened to an introduction to the center’s service programs for persons with disabilities, visited the themed exhibition on the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games, and then learned about the application of assistive products for persons with disabilities in China, reading activities for children with disabilities, and the development of accessible facilities in the area of assistive technology achievements exhibition and the area of publications for pubic wellfare.

Peng Liyuan and Queen Letizia of Spain Visited the Beijing Demonstration Center of Service for Persons with Disabilities in 2025

In 2025, the Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation participated in events at the United Nations Headquarters on three occasions, leveraging achievements in accessible environment development, high-tech assistive products, and handicrafts made by persons with disabilities as bridges to enhance the international community’s understanding and recognition of China’s work for persons with disabilities.

“Beautiful Crafts Workshop Blooming in New York” Exhibition of Cultural and Creative Works by Chinese Women with Disabilities Showcased at UN Headquarters in 2025

The federation has pursued both inbound engagement and international outreach, using multi-level and multi-sector exchange activities as platforms to successfully carry out foreign affairs activities, such as receiving the U.S. government delegation on disability affairs for China-U.S. exchanges and hosting visits by journalists from multiple countries. It has also hosted the “Belt and Road” Disability Cooperation Theme Forum and a UNICEF photo exhibition, telling China’s stories well and sharing Beijing’s experience on affairs of persons with disabilities.

02 Building a Comprehensive Service Facility and Creating a Window for International Exchanges

Guided by systematic planning, the Beijing Disabled Persons’ Federation has developed Hui Ai Building (the Beijing Demonstration Center of Service for Persons with Disabilities) into the largest provincial-level comprehensive service facility for persons with disabilities in China. It has become an important window for showcasing the achievements of the capital in the development of the cause of persons with disabilities.

Exterior of Hui Ai Building (Beijing Demonstration Center of Service for Persons with Disabilities)

Foreign Guests Experience Accessible Facilities at Hui Ai Building

In May 2025, China’s first provincial-level exhibition area for assistive technologies for persons with disabilities was established. Since its completion, the exhibition area has hosted 12 foreign affairs activities and received more than 300 visits by foreign guests from multiple countries and regions, earning high praise.

Foreign Guests Learn About Accessible Communication Screen in the Exhibition Area of Assistive Technology Achievements

03 Improving the Service and Support System and Strengthening the Foundation for International Exchanges

Following the standards of “building a showcase window, improving support services, and enhancing social civility”, the federation has showcased achievements in assistive technologies for persons with disabilities and in social care. It has taken the lead in making public spaces more accessible. The digital sign-language guide service jointly developed with the Capital Museum has been included as a model example in UNESCO’s museum accessibility collection of selected case studies: “Museums for All: Call for Innovative Practices in Accessibility and Inclusion”.

The Digital Sign-Language Guide Service Jointly Developed With the Capital Museum