Trade union chief Wang Zhaoguo said on Monday that unswerving efforts must be made to ensure the country's trade unions develop on a "socialist path with Chinese characteristics."

Wang, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), made the remarks at a meeting commemorating the 80th anniversary of the founding of the ACFTU.

Wang, who is also vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC)?Standing Committee, China's top legislative body, spoke highly of contributions made by the federation over the past eight decades in uniting and leading the entire working class in the Chinese revolution and construction and the reform and opening up drive.

Noting that it is a major achievement after years of hard effort, he said experience had shown that trade unions must answer the needs of their era and adapt to real circumstances.

Urging trade unions to carry forward their glorious tradition, Wang stressed that all of them must continue under the leadership of the CPC and serve the Party and the country at the same time as representing and safeguarding the legitimate rights of all employees and the general population.

The ACFTU is a mass organization of the working class formed by Chinese workers. Founded on May 1, 1925, it now has a membership of 134 million in more than 1.7 million primary trade union organizations.

(Xinhua News Agency April 26, 2005)