Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has expressed care and expectations to a model port worker and asked him to convey his greetings to port workers around the country in a letter prior to the National Day holidays, which falls on Oct. 1.

"It's a pleasure to receive your letter. I hope you'll make sustained efforts and post new achievements in your work," Wen wrote back to Xu Zhenchao, a crane driver in Qingdao Port of east China's Shandong Province, on Sept. 28.

Xu had written to Premier Wen to voice greetings and gratitude when he was invited to the national capital Beijing for celebration activities on the eve of the 55th founding anniversary of New China.

"I never expected to receive a reply from the premier himself, and so soon," said an excited Xu.

In this letter, the premier said he hoped Xu would enjoy his National Day holiday, and asked Xu to convey his greetings to all the port workers.

"I can feel the premier's true affection toward us port workers. We can only repay his kindness by working harder and contributing more to the transportation industry and China's economic growth," said Xu.

Xu has been highly praised for his outstanding performance at his blue-collar post. He not only fulfilled much loading and unloading work, but also made a variety of technological innovations and greatly improved the operation efficiency of the port.

Premier Wen has called on nationwide workers and officials to learn from Xu, whom he praised as "an outstanding representative of today's Chinese workers."

(Xinhua News Agency October 2, 2004)