Cooperation between the Chinese organisation for the disabled CDPF and the medical technology company Otto Bock HealthCare is being expanded. Minister for Scientific Affairs Lutz Stratmann, CDPF Vice President Wang Xinxian, CDPF Division Manager Xu Xiaoming and Professor Hans Georg Näder, chairman and CEO of the Otto Bock Group signed a policy statement on October 8, 2008 during Premier of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff’s trip to Asia.

As a government organisation for the disabled, the China Disabled Peoples´ Federation (CDPF) represents the interests of approximately 80 million handicapped people. Its activities range from rehabilitation facilities, training and workplace integration to the promotion of cultural and especially sports activities.

Otto Bock HealthCare headquartered in Duderstadt, South Lower Saxony, the global market leader in the prosthetics field, established a foreign subsidiary in Beijing 15 years ago. Most recently the company successfully deployed 136 orthopaedic technicians for repair services at the Paralympics. Athletes from around the world took advantage of technical service 2188 times over the course of the games.

Prior to signing the contract, the economic delegation led by Minister for Scientific Affairs Lutz Stratmann visited the Otto Bock subsidiary in Beijing to learn about its activities. Ongoing cooperation with 50 Chinese orthopaedic technicians, who received training from Otto Bock during and before the Paralympics, is one of the current projects. After obtaining additional qualifications, they have returned to clinics and workshops all over the country where they are applying and passing on their expertise. “This level of cooperation means our involvement in the Paralympics will have a particularly enduring effect in China,” Professor Hans Georg Näder explains.