President Hu Jintao said on Monday that China attaches
great importance to sustainable development and will take a series
of measures to better safeguard the legitimate rights and interests
of workers.
"China is willing to cooperate with the international community
to address the challenges posed by the international issues like
climate change, environment pollution and energy shortage."
Hu made the remarks in his speech at the opening ceremony of an
international forum on economic globalization and trade unions. He
stressed China is committed to contribute to the global sustainable
development.
The economic globalization brings precious opportunity but also
severe challenge to world development. He called on the concerned
countries and organizations to make efforts to promote the
globalization with balanced, reciprocal and win-win results.
"We should contribute our efforts to create favorable conditions
for various countries, especially those developing countries, in
the international economic, trade and financial systems," Hu
proposed.
He also highlighted the role played by trade unions. They need
to promote conditions of improved employment, increased salary and
improved social insurance and health care for workers in various
countries.
China has the most giant trade union organizations in the world,
with about 193 million members in more than 1.5 million grassroots
trade unions.
Chinese government highly values the role played by the
All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), the country's top
level trade union. It supports the organization's efforts to expand
bilateral exchanges and cooperation with trade unions in other
countries. This aims to generate further contribution to promote
the long-lasting peace, prosperity and harmony in the world, Hu
said.
Over 60 leaders of the trade unions from 24 countries and four
international and regional trade union organizations are attending
the two-day forum that is scheduled to end on Tuesday in the
Chinese capital.
The leaders would deliver keynote speeches and have discussions
themed on "sustainable development, decent work and the role of
trade union".
(Xinhua News Agency January 8, 2008)