UNITED NATIONS, Jun 13 (APP): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday warned that “cascade of crises” is putting global progress towards ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities in danger.

Addressing a conference to take stock of action since the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) 17 years ago, he urged countries to “do much, much better” to achieve greater inclusion and accessibility.

There are more than one billion persons with disabilities worldwide, most of whom are of working age and live in developing countries.

The 16th session of the Conference of States Parties to the CRPD is taking place at UN Headquarters in New York through Thursday.

Guterres said the treaty marked “a landmark moment in our shared journey towards a more just and inclusive future for all.”

It has been ratified by 186 countries, and some 75 per cent of State Parties have passed laws to guarantee the integration of students with disabilities in mainstream schools.

Nearly 80 per cent now prohibit discrimination in hiring against persons with disabilities, and over 90 per cent have adopted national disability laws.

“Today, however, the progress we achieved is at risk of reversing,” the UN chief said, referring to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the worsening climate emergency, conflicts, soaring humanitarian needs, and the global cost-of-living crisis.

Guterres noted that persons with disabilities “are often hit first and worst” when crisis strikes. “In every emergency – from natural disasters to pandemics to armed conflicts – persons with disabilities lose their lives at vastly higher rates,” he said.

Furthermore, workers with disabilities – who already suffer exclusion and marginalization – are often the first to lose their jobs and the last to be re-hired. Meanwhile, women and girls with disabilities are more likely to suffer violence and abuse, face discrimination, and remain trapped in poverty.

“We must do much, much better,” he said, underlining that everyone has the right to live lives of dignity and opportunity, in societies that are peaceful, prosperous, and just.

“Because a world in which persons with disabilities can realize their full potential is a world that is more equal, more inclusive, more vibrant, fairer and better for all,” he added.

Guterres said the conference highlights three areas where progress must be made now, starting with improving digital accessibility for persons with disabilities, as “leaving no one behind, means leaving no one offline.”

Persons with disabilities must also have equal access to sexual and reproductive health services, an issue that has been “so deeply neglected”, he continued.

“It is not only a matter of justice and rights, including fundamental reproductive rights – for women with disabilities, access to sexual and reproductive health services can be the difference between life and death,” he said.

Finally, countries must ensure the full inclusion and active participation of persons with disabilities in all their diversity.

“Specifically, that means shifting mindsets to ensure persons with disabilities are fully included in decision-making processes on all issues that affect them,”
The Secretary-General underlined the UN’s commitment to take ownership and show leadership.

Four years ago, he launched a strategy on disability inclusion across all pillars of the Organization’s work in peace and security, human rights, and development. Since then, UN entities and country teams have met 30 per cent of benchmarks.

Guterres acknowledged that “while this is progress – it is neither fast nor broad enough”, adding, “we must pick up the pace.”

“My commitment is ironclad: guided by persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, we will not stop until disability inclusion and accessibility are fully built into every aspect of our work – across every policy, programme, and operation; from headquarters to the field,” he said.

BEIJING, June 13 (APP): In a landmark decision to build China-Pakistan economic partnership, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has granted access to Pakistani heat-treated beef to enter the Chinese market, as per the latest official statement.

According to the official announcement, the imported Pakistani heat-treated beef must originate from cattle younger than 30 months, and the meat must be boneless, having undergone a stringent heat treatment process. The centre of the meat should reach a temperature of at least 70 degrees Celsius for a minimum of 30 minutes.

The statement noted production enterprises of heat-treated beef have to be located in Pakistan and operate under Pakistani official supervision, adhering to the veterinary health and public health regulations of both China and Pakistan.

Before exporting heat-treated beef to China, the producer must be registered with China, and only the heat-treated beef produced after the registration date is allowed for export, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Tuesday.

The announcement also details extensive requirements about animal disease management, processing conditions, storage, certification, packaging, transportation, and labelling.

The access of Pakistani beef to the Chinese market represents a milestone in the China-Pakistan economic cooperation. With the continuous development and deepening of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), more Pakistani agricultural products are expected to enter the Chinese market.

This new development follows the earlier agreement for the export of Pakistani cherries to the Chinese market, further illustrating the mutually beneficial economic relationship between the two countries.

APP/asg

BEIJING, June 13 (APP):In a concerted effort move to boost cooperation in life sciences among countries along the Belt and Road (BRI), a total of 47 research-oriented positions for young scientists from the BRI countries have been unveiled at an agricultural seminar held at the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) in China’s southwest city of Kunming.

Of the 47 openings, 27 stem from the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) and the rest hail from Shandong University of Science and Technology, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and Anhui Academy of Agricultural Sciences, YAAS told China Economic Net (CEN).

The event is part of the Talented Young Scientist Programme (TYSP) that was launched in 2013 to recruit young researchers from BRI countries to work in China on a full-time basis for six or twelve months and subsidise cooperation between research institutions, universities, and enterprises among BRI countries.

At the forum, existing and former TYSP scholars from BRI countries including China, Pakistan and Iran shared their research progresses and experiences under TYSP.

Joining the TYSP programme between 2016 and 2017, Pakistani scientist Farman Ali recalled his research on eco-friendly pest management techniques and the subsequent research papers published during his one-year stint.

Ali noted that the programme unites international researchers around challenging scientific studies and helps shape the careers of young scientists. He further suggested establishing more collaborative projects, exchange visits, and participating in meetings and conferences to stay connected among TYSP scholars.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the International Young Scientist Program (TYSP) and the Belt and Road Initiative, the forum saw participation from representatives from more than ten research institutions, universities, and consulates in China. Scientists from countries such as Myanmar, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also participated.

BEIJING, Jun. 13 (APP):China Southern Airlines resumed its flight operations from Lahore to Urumqi on Tuesday with flight number CZ6018, which will provide greater convenience for businessmen and tourists traveling to China from Lahore and neighboring provinces.

The route will have three return flights per week with a capacity of around 177 passengers per flight, CEN reported.

Urumqi, a city in northwestern China, has extensive business, cultural and tourist exchanges with Lahore. The resumption of flights has attracted the attention and involvement of passengers from both countries.

Zhang Bing, a passenger on the flight, said with excitement that before the resumption, passengers needed to travel from Lahore to Islamabad one day in advance. “The opening of flights from Lahore to Urumqi has shortened the entire journey,” he added.

Afridi, a businessman engaged in the import and export of small commodities between China and Pakistan, said the resumption of flights had improved the efficiency of transportation and reduced logistics costs.

Zhang Xingru, General Manager of China Southern Airlines Company Limited Lahore Office told China Economic Net that the current year marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the resumption of flights between Urumqi and Lahore would further promote connectivity and boost the high-quality construction of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

Following the resumption of the flights, he said, the company had increased the number of routes from Urumqi to Pakistan to both Lahore and Islamabad and realized daily service for the two brotherly countries.

“We are considering adding some new services after this resumption to meet the needs of passengers. We also look forward to expanding the air route network and operating more flights between Pakistan and China in the future, so as to contribute to Pak-China collaboration in economy, trade, tourism and people-to-people exchanges”, Zhang Xingru concluded.