Wei Jianxing, chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), made the call Monday during a gathering to mark International Labour Day which falls Wednesday.

A total of 997 people from all walks of life were awarded with the "May 1 Labour Medal" Monday by the ACFTU for their outstanding accomplishments and unremitting hard work.

Wei encouraged others to follow their example and make new contributions towards the country's modernization drive.

"We are now in an era in which global competition is much more fierce and members of the working class, the guarantors of the State's prosperity, should adapt to the new situation and do everything possible to increase their knowledge and skills," said Wei.

It has become a tradition of the federation to award annually around 1,000 hard-working people with a medal in commemoration of Labour Day.

At Monday's celebration, chaired by Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo, Wei praised the working class and other labourers for playing an important role in China's reform, opening up and modernization drive.

Wei also extended his greetings to all workers within the country.

The work of the Chinese Communist Party and the country is based on safeguarding the economic, political and cultural rights and interests of the working class and other labourers, said Wei.

He noted that trade unions are a bridge linking the Party with the workers.

Party committees and governments at all levels should pay great attention to the work of trade unions, and create the right conditions for them to fulfil their functions, he said.

(China Daily April 30, 2002)