Diplomats and workers from 65 embassies and foreign representative offices in Beijing raised 1.4 million yuan ($205,840) over the weekend for disabled people, China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Funds collected will be used to construct two rehabilitation centers for disabled people, one in the landslide-stricken Zhouqu county, in Northwestern Gansu Province.[Xinhua]

The International Charity Sale for Persons with Disabilities, co-organized by the foreign ministry and the China Foundation for Disabled Persons, was held in Sun Park in Chaoyang District, with 90 booths taking part.

Items sold in this year's event included food, wine, books and handicrafts - all were made in foreign countries.

Funds collected will be used to construct two rehabilitation centers for disabled people, one in the landslide-stricken Zhouqu county, in Northwestern Gansu Province, and the other in Xibaipo, in Northern Hebei Province.

In the opening address, Le Aimei, wife of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who presided over the event, expressed gratitude toward the participants and stressed the significance of this international charity event.

"The Chinese government has dedicated massive efforts in improving the livelihood of the disabled, but there are still many difficulties, especially in the settlement and rehabilitation of the disabled," Le said, adding that China has more than 82 million disabled persons, and most of them are living in rural areas.

"This event is aimed at directing social attentions to care and further support the disabled, especially those living in rural areas," she said.

Babakhan Aslami, the first secretary at the embassy of Afghanistan, told the Global Times that the event produced two positive results: raising funds for disabled persons and promoting Afghanistan's culture and image.

But, he conceded that more people could have donated if the location of the event was more accessible to visitors.

Chin Siat Yoon, the Singaporean ambassador to China, told China National Radio that the event had more significance this year because it helps the people in Zhouqu, a city still recovering from devastating landslides last month.

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