The All China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) on Friday urged the country's educational, scientific, cultural, health and sports trade unions at all levels to foster professionals in their fields for swift and sound development of the Chinese economy.

ACFTU vice-chairman Wang Yupu made the remarks at a seminar in Beijing to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Educational Trade Union.

Educational trade unions at all levels have made great strides in protecting teachers' legal rights, boosting educational reform and social development, Wang said.

Wang also called on a wider coverage of trade unions in those sectors and to boost solutions to issues that employees are most concerned with.

The Chinese Educational Trade Union was enlarged to a national trade union that covers the educational, scientific, cultural, health and sports sectors in 2002. It has more than 27 million members nationwide.