BEIJING, April 30 (Xinhua) -- A conference to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and honor model workers and exemplary individuals was held at the Great Hall of the People on the morning of April 28. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, attended the gathering and delivered an important speech. Xi stressed that on the new journey of the new era, it is imperative to center around the central task of the Party, pool the immense strength of the country's working class and working people, and turn the grand blueprint of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into reality through hard, down-to-earth work.

With the International Workers' Day just around the corner, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, Xi extended sincere greetings to workers, farmers, intellectuals, and the broad working force of the country's all ethnic groups, as well as to trade union organizations at all levels and their workers. He also conveyed festive greetings to union members and working masses in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan, and extended warm congratulations to the national model workers and exemplary individuals who were honored.

Chinese Premier Li Qiang chaired the meeting, with Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, Ding Xuexiang and Li Xi in attendance. Cai Qi read out the commendation decision.

The Great Hall of the People was in a solemn and festive atmosphere. The streamer reading "Celebration for the 100th anniversary of the founding of the ACFTU and commendation ceremony for national model workers and exemplary individuals" was hung above the podium. Behind it was the emblem of the ACFTU, with the inscription "1925-2025" below it. Ten red flags flanked both sides of the venue. Another streamer was hung on the second-floor balcony, reading: "Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, we will steadfastly follow the Party and its guidance. We will also give full play to the role of the working class as the main force and that of trade unions as a bridge and bond in advancing the building of a great nation and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization!"

At 10 a.m., the conference commenced with all attendees rising to sing the national anthem of the People's Republic of China.

Cai Qi read out the "Decision of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on Commending National Model Workers and Exemplary Individuals." A total of 1,670 individuals were awarded the title of National Model Worker, while 756 were recognized in the category of National Exemplary Individual.

Amid cheerful melodies, representatives of the national model workers and exemplary individuals ascended the rostrum in turn, where Xi and other leaders presented them with certificates of honor.

Ye Linwei, team leader of China National Erzhong Group Deyang Wanhang Die Forging Co., Ltd., read out a proposal on behalf of all the award recipients.

Amid resounding applause, Xi delivered an important speech. He noted that over the past 100 years since the founding of the ACFTU, trade unions at all levels, under the leadership of the CPC, have closely followed the Party's central task across different historical periods. By mobilizing China's working class to advance with the Party and remain at the forefront of the times, they have made indelible contributions to the great causes of revolution, construction, and reform, thus writing glorious chapters of Chinese workers' movement.

Xi stressed that since the 18th CPC National Congress, the Party Central Committee has made a series of important statements and arrangements regarding the working class and the work of trade unions, and answered a series of questions concerning the orientation, fundamental principles and strategic issues in this regard. All these have further enriched and developed the Party's theories concerning the workers' movement, and ensured that the Party's workers' movement made historic achievements and progress on all fronts. Trade unions at all levels have united and mobilized all workers to work to the utmost of their abilities and skills in the great practices of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, and made important contributions to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and advancing Chinese modernization.

Xi noted that practices over the past 100 years have fully proven that the Chinese working class is the most solid and reliable class basis for the CPC, the leading class of our socialist country, the representative of advanced productive forces and relations of production, and the main force in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. China's trade unions are truly a bridge and bond linking the Party with workers, and an important social pillar of socialist state power. They are also representatives and defenders of workers' interests. No matter how historical conditions and social groups evolve, the status and role of the working class in China, the fundamental principle of relying wholeheartedly on the working class, and the nature and functions of the country's trade unions cannot be shaken.

Xi emphasized that the most important achievement in the century-long practice and theoretical innovation in the Party's workers' movement is the formation of the path of socialist trade union development with Chinese characteristics. This path upholds the Party's overall leadership over workers' movement and trade union work, adheres to the fundamental principle of relying wholeheartedly on the working class, aligns with and serves the Party's central task, maintains the political, advanced, and mass-based nature of trade unions, prioritizes serving workers as the lifeline of trade unions, and operates in strict accordance with laws and regulations. It is a profound summary of valuable experience of the Party in leading the workers' movement and trade union work, which must be adhered to in the long term.

Xi noted that the central task of the Party constitutes the defining theme of the times for the workers' movement. On our new journey in the new era, we must further mobilize and motivate the working class and the broad working masses to make new and greater contributions to advancing the building of a great nation and the realization of national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization. Efforts should be made to promote high-quality development, mobilize and inspire the broad masses of workers and laborers to make outstanding achievements in their careers. Xi stressed the need to follow the new round of sci-tech revolution and industrial transformation, and comprehensively improve the quality of the workforce. It is essential to thoroughly practice socialist core values, and vigorously promote the respect for model workers, the ethos of work as well as craftsmanship. We must focus on advancing common prosperity and steadily enhancing the well-being of the broad working masses.

Noting that model workers and exemplary individuals are role models for the people and pillars of the nation, Xi called on the whole society to learn from their deeds and carry forward their excellent qualities, while encouraging them to cherish the honor, stay true to themselves, keep up the good work, and make new achievements.

Xi pointed out that standing on a new historical starting point, trade unions at all levels should fully implement the decisions and plans of the CPC Central Committee and promote the high-quality development of trade unions' work. He stressed the necessity of adhering to the correct political direction and rallying workers and the broad working masses closely around the Party. He also urged adherence to the worker-centered orientation in their work, with wholehearted efforts to serve workers and promote their all-around development. Xi also called for further reform and development of trade unions, and continuous strengthening of their capabilities in leadership, organization and service.

Stressing the workers' movement as an important part of the cause of the Party, Xi urged Party committees at all levels to strengthen and improve their leadership over trade unions, analyze and solve major problems that arise in their work in a timely manner, and create favorable conditions for their performance of duties.

When presiding over the conference, Li Qiang pointed out that General Secretary Xi's important speech spoke highly of the glorious journey and great achievements of the CPC-led workers' movement in China over the past 100 years, and fully approved of China's working class and trade unions for their positions and roles in advancing the undertakings of the CPC and the country. He further noted that the speech summed up valuable experience from the workers' movement and trade unions' work, expressed ardent hopes to the working class and the broad working masses for their aspirational endeavors, as well as put forward clear requirements for trade unions' work on the new journey of the new era. Xi's speech encapsulates the CPC Central Committee's kind care and concern for the working class and the working people, and the importance the CPC Central Committee attaches to the cause of the workers' movement as well as the work of trade unions. Xi's speech is of political, theoretical, strategic and guiding importance, and must be conscientiously studied and thoroughly implemented, Li said. We must unite even more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, so as to make greater achievement in building China into a great country and achieving the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese modernization on the new journey, Li said.

Wang Dongming, chairman of the ACFTU, delivered a speech.

The conference concluded with all present singing the Internationale.

Those who attended the conference include members of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, relevant leading officials from the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and the Central Military Commission. Also present were former leaders of the ACFTU.

More than 3,000 people attended the conference. They include leading officials from central Party and state departments, the military, mass organizations, as well as from the Beijing municipal government. Also present were leaders of the central committees of non-CPC political parties and the All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce, as well as representatives of personages without Party affiliation. They also include representatives of provincial-level trade unions, national model workers and exemplary individuals of 2025, as well as representatives of model workers and exemplary individuals of previous years.