On the morning of August 24, the 2024 International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology and the World Rehabilitation Robotics Conference opened in Yangpu District. Zhang Haidi, former chairperson of China Disabled Persons' Federation and chairperson of Rehabilitation International; Sarun Sumriddetchkajorn, chairman of the Asia Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Alliance; Wang Lingyu, Party Secretary of Shanghai University of Science and Technology; Zhou Haiying, Deputy Secretary of Yangpu District Committee and District Mayor; Yan Heping, President of China Association of Assistive Products; Peng Mingqiang, Party Secretary and Executive Vice President of Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine; and Zhang Yanping, Deputy Secretary of Shanghai Municipal Education and Health Work Committee, delivered speeches at the conference. Zhuang Songlin, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Chu Junhao, academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences; Xu Jianguang, chairman of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee and co-chairman of the International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology; Fang Guoen, former president and director of the expert committee of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine; Du Songquan, chairman of the Shanghai Disabled Persons' Federation; Shen Min, deputy director of Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau; and Wang Hao, deputy district mayor of Yangpu District, attended the conference. Professor Yu Hongliu, chairman of the conference, delivered a welcome speech. People from all walks of life in rehabilitation engineering production, academia, and research from home and abroad gathered in Yangpu District to discuss development.

Zhang Haidi stated in her speech that rehabilitation is the repair and reconstruction of life, and it is the top priority for the development of the cause of persons with disabilities. Science and technology are changing the lives of persons with disabilities. She called on domestic and international experts and scholars to work together to jointly cultivate rehabilitation talents, jointly promote scientific and technological innovation in the rehabilitation field, make more inventions and creations in the rehabilitation field, and create a better future for the development of rehabilitation science in China and the world.

Mr. Sarun Sumriddetchkajorn thanked everyone for their concern and support for the Asia Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Alliance. He stated that rehabilitation engineering and rehabilitation robotics technology are one of the important directions for the development of medical science and technology in the world today. He hoped that this conference would inspire more people's attention and enthusiasm for rehabilitation engineering, and wished the conference a complete success.

Wang Lingyu stated that medical equipment is closely related to people's lives and health. In recent years, Shanghai University of Science and Technology has fully leveraged its traditional advantages in the field of medical devices to promote the development of China's medical equipment towards high-end, intelligent, and international directions. Shanghai University of Science and Technology will use this conference as a platform to strengthen cooperation with rehabilitation experts at home and abroad, enable technology to empower the future of rehabilitation, and strive to contribute wisdom and strength to people's health and well-being.

Zhou Haiying stated that health is the foundation of life and the source of happiness. With the aging population and increasing demand for rehabilitation, rehabilitation engineering and rehabilitation robotics technology have become important directions for global technological innovation and industrial development. As the first district to propose the concept of a people's city, Yangpu District will adhere to empowering the improvement of people's well-being through technological innovation, deepen collaborative innovation among districts, universities, and enterprises, and promote the coordinated development of rehabilitation undertakings and industries.

Yan Heping delivered a speech to the conference via video, stating that the development and progress of rehabilitation engineering and industry are important achievements in the development of human civilization. She hoped that everyone would continue to care for and support China's rehabilitation assistive products industry, and promote the development and progress of welfare services for the elderly and people with disabilities.

Peng Mingqiang stated that the International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology and the World Rehabilitation Robotics Conference is an important platform to promote exchange and cooperation in the international rehabilitation field. The successful holding of the conference will certainly promote the development of China's rehabilitation cause and even global rehabilitation engineering.

Zhang Yanping stated that the development of rehabilitation engineering requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society. She hoped that this conference would serve as an opportunity to inspire more people's attention to rehabilitation engineering, and collectively work towards improving the quality of life for people with disabilities and the elderly, and building a more inclusive and equal society.

The attending leaders jointly launched the 2024 International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology and the World Rehabilitation Robotics Conference. Academician Dong Erdan, Academician Gu Yudong, and Academician Dai Kerong from the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Chen Lidian, President of the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine; Cao Yuejin, Executive Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Rehabilitation Association for Persons with Disabilities; Peng Yi, Secretary-General of the Chinese Society for Biomedical Engineering, and other guests sent video congratulations to the conference.

From the theme "Cooperation, Innovation - Making the World Accessible" in 2018 to "Technology Empowers Rehabilitation Future" in 2024, after six years, the International Conference on Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology has returned to Shanghai. This conference focuses on discussing basic issues of rehabilitation engineering and assistive technology in areas such as rehabilitation therapy, rehabilitation nursing, and accessible interaction design, and also pays attention to cutting-edge technological trends such as intelligent rehabilitation and rehabilitation robots, technology for elderly care and intelligent care robots, future rehabilitation and humanoid robots, rehabilitation technology innovation and intelligent traditional Chinese medicine rehabilitation, regenerative rehabilitation and bionic prosthetics, rehabilitation robots and standard specifications, home rehabilitation and rehabilitation Internet of Things, jointly discussing the development of the rehabilitation engineering industry.