Vice Premier Hui Liangyu met with the visiting chairman of Special Olympics International (SOI), Timothy Shriver, in Beijing on Saturday.

"Caring for people with disabilities is a significant way to promote peace, friendship and human progress," Hui said at the meeting.

"The Special Olympic Games in Shanghai last year and the Beijing Paralympic Games will serve as a platform for people with disabilities from all over the world to realize their dreams. The two Games will also further promote the well-being of people with a disability in China," Hui said.

Highly praising the efforts of the SOI to promote the Special Olympics movement globally, Hui said that he hoped the SOI would continue to support the Special Olympics movement in China and enhance bilateral cooperation for further progress.

Shriver congratulated Hui on the successful organization of the Beijing Olympic Games and wished the Paralympics would also be successful.

"We would like to further expand exchanges and cooperation with China to share more experience in the Special Olympics," Shriver said.

The opening ceremony of the Paralympics is scheduled for Saturday night. More than 4,000 athletes from more than 140 countries and territories will participate in the Games.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2008)