China trade unions hope to cooperate with their international counterparts in the quest for world peace, development and the interests of workers, said Wang Zhaoguo, president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, in Beijing on Saturday.

Wang met at the Great Hall of the People with Alexander Zharikov, general secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions; Prof. Ibrahim Ghandour, chairman of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity; Rajab Maatouk, deputy general secretary of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions; and Vladimir Scherbakov, general secretary of the General Confederation of Trade Unions of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

The guests are in Beijing to attend the two-day International Forum on Economic Globalization and Trade Unions, which opened on October 10.

Wang, also a member of the Politburo of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, said that rapid economic globalization has brought opportunities and challenges to the international movement of trade unions. However, peace, development and the interests of the workers remain focal points for all trade unions.

He said the Chinese federation of trade unions hopes to work with its counterparts to create a new order in the global movement of trade unions.

Wang is scheduled to address the international forum on Monday.

(Xinhua News Agency October 10, 2004)