Xi Jinping: Speech at the Conference Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and the National Conference for Commending Model Workers and Advanced Workers

Comrades and friends:

As the International Labor Day on May 1st draws near, we are convening this grand assembly to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, to review and summarize the glorious journey and remarkable achievements of China’s workers’ movement, to commend national model workers and outstanding contributors, and to further mobilize and inspire the Chinese working class and the broad ranks of working people to embark on a new journey and make contributions in the new era, so as to make new and even greater contributions to comprehensively advancing the cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

First of all, on behalf of the Party Central Committee, I wish to pay profound tribute to the revolutionary martyrs and veteran trade union leaders who have made outstanding historical contributions to the Party’s cause of workers’ movements! I extend sincere greetings to workers, farmers, intellectuals, and other working people of all ethnic groups across the country, as well as to trade union organizations at all levels and to all trade union workers! I also extend festive greetings to our friends in the trade unions and labor circles of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Macao Special Administrative Region, and the Taiwan region! Finally, I offer warm congratulations to the national model workers and advanced workers who have been commended!

At the same time, on behalf of the Chinese working class and the broad masses of working people, I extend my warmest wishes to the working class and the broad masses of working people around the world!

Comrades and friends!

On May 1, 1925, in accordance with a decision of the CPC Central Committee, the Second National Labor Congress opened in Guangzhou, at which the All-China Federation of Trade Unions was formally established. Over the past century, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, Chinese trade unions have closely aligned themselves with the Party’s central tasks in each historical period, uniting and mobilizing the Chinese working class to follow the Party’s lead and remain at the forefront of the times. In advancing the great causes of revolution, construction, and reform, they have forged immortal achievements and written a glorious chapter in the history of the Chinese workers’ movement.

During the period of the New Democratic Revolution, Chinese trade unions united and mobilized the broad masses of workers, inspiring them with an indomitable revolutionary spirit to bravely join the revolutionary tide against imperialism, feudalism, and bureaucratic capitalism. Through successive waves of sacrifice and bloody struggle, they made significant contributions to achieving national independence and people’s liberation and to the founding of the People’s Republic of China.

During the period of socialist revolution and construction, the Chinese trade unions united and mobilized the broad masses of workers and employees to embrace a sense of ownership and boundless enthusiasm, actively dedicating themselves to the building of New China. Through arduous efforts and relentless striving, they echoed the powerful anthem of the times—“We Workers Have Great Strength”—and made significant contributions to consolidating the newly established people’s regime, establishing the basic socialist system, and advancing socialist construction.

During the new era of reform and opening-up and socialist modernization, the Chinese trade unions have united and mobilized the broad ranks of workers and staff, enabling them to step forward as the main force in the cause of reform and opening-up. With a strong sense of mission and responsibility, they have enthusiastically engaged in reform and opening-up, pursued progress with determination, and made selfless contributions, thereby playing a vital role in liberating and developing the productive forces and in building socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Party Central Committee has put forward a series of important expositions on the working class and trade union work, made arrangements for advancing a host of crucial initiatives, and provided profound answers to a range of directional, fundamental, and strategic questions. These efforts have further enriched and developed the Party’s theory on workers’ movements, driving historic achievements and all-round progress in the cause of workers’ movements. The All-China Federation of Trade Unions has united and mobilized the broad ranks of workers and staff to adopt the posture of dedicated strivers—confident, self-reliant, and willing to shoulder heavy responsibilities—and to demonstrate their capabilities in the great practice of socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, thereby making significant contributions to the timely completion of a moderately prosperous society in all respects and to the advancement of Chinese modernization.

The past century since the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions has been a century in which Marxist theory on the labor movement has been integrated with the concrete realities of the Chinese workers’ movement, and a century in which the Chinese working class and trade union organizations have steadfastly followed the Party and united in striving for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Practice has fully demonstrated that the Chinese working class is indeed the Communist Party of China’s most solid and reliable class foundation, the leading class of our socialist state, the representative of advanced productive forces and relations of production, and the main force in upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. The Chinese trade unions are indeed the bridge and link through which the Party connects with the broad masses of workers, an important social pillar of the socialist state power, and the representatives and defenders of workers’ interests. No matter how the conditions of the times and the composition of social groups evolve, the status and role of the Chinese working class must remain unshaken; the fundamental principle of wholeheartedly relying on the working class must remain unshaken; and the nature and functions of the Chinese trade unions must remain unshaken.

Over the past century, the most significant achievement of the Party’s theoretical innovation and practical development in the cause of workers’ movements has been the establishment of a path of trade union development with Chinese characteristics. This path upholds the Party’s comprehensive leadership over the workers’ movement and trade union work, ensuring that the workers’ movement always advances in the correct direction; adheres to the fundamental principle of wholeheartedly relying on the working class and fully bringing into play the working class’s role as the main force; remains subordinate to and serves the Party’s central tasks, so that the workers’ movement and trade union work consciously act within the overall context; upholds the political nature, advanced character, and mass base of trade union organizations, thereby fully leveraging their role as a bridge and link between the Party and the broad ranks of workers; takes serving the broad masses of workers as its lifeline, effectively safeguarding their legitimate rights and interests and promoting their all-round development; and conducts its work in accordance with the law and the trade union charter, thus continuously enhancing the vitality and dynamism of trade union organizations and trade union work through both upholding fundamental principles and pursuing innovative approaches. All these represent a profound summation of the Party’s invaluable experience in leading the workers’ movement and trade union work over the past century, and must be upheld over the long term.

Comrades and friends!

The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China has clearly defined the central task of comprehensively advancing the great cause of building a modern socialist country and achieving national rejuvenation through Chinese-style modernization. This central task is the defining theme of the times for China’s workers’ movement. In this new era and on this new journey, we must focus squarely on the Party’s central task and rally the tremendous strength of the working class and the broad ranks of working people.

We must focus on promoting high-quality development and mobilize and inspire the broad ranks of workers and the general laboring masses to make contributions and achieve success through innovation and creativity. High-quality development is inseparable from high-quality labor and creation. To this end, we should integrate the development of new-quality productive forces, thoroughly implement the new development philosophy, and launch a wide range of activities aimed at making contributions and achieving success as well as mass-based innovation and creativity. We should organize and guide workers to ground themselves in their respective posts, tackle tough challenges in the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, pioneer and forge ahead in the development and expansion of emerging industries, and boldly explore new avenues in the cultivation and growth of future industries, thereby continuously injecting new momentum into the establishment of a new development paradigm and the promotion of high-quality development.

We must align with the new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation and comprehensively enhance the quality of the workforce. This is an inherent requirement for the Chinese working class, as the “most progressive class,” to consistently remain at the forefront of the times. We must focus closely on implementing the strategies of rejuvenating the country through science, education, and talent, as well as innovation-driven development; deeply advance the project to improve the quality of employees; deepen the reform of the contingent of industrial workers; conduct extensive labor and skills competitions; guide the broad ranks of workers to engage in lifelong learning and continuously raise their own qualifications; and strive to build a large army of workers who are knowledge-based, skills-oriented, and innovation-driven.

We must thoroughly embody the core socialist values and vigorously promote the model-worker spirit, the labor spirit, and the craftsman spirit. The model-worker spirit, the labor spirit, and the craftsman spirit, forged by the working class and the broad ranks of working people through their long-term struggle, are a vivid embodiment of the core socialist values. We should vigorously champion the social ethos that labor is the most glorious, the most noble, the greatest, and the most beautiful; foster a favorable environment that respects labor, knowledge, talent, and innovation; and inspire all the people to realize their aspirations for a better life through diligent, honest, and creative labor.

We must focus on advancing common prosperity and steadily enhancing the well-being of the broad ranks of workers and the working masses. Common prosperity depends on the contributions of the vast workforce and must be realized through and for the benefit of that very workforce. We must uphold the people-centered development philosophy, create better employment and working conditions, promote high-quality employment, and systematically increase the share of labor, skills, knowledge, innovation, and other factors in income distribution, thereby continuously strengthening the sense of gain, happiness, and security among workers and the broader working population.

Model workers and advanced individuals are role models for the people and pillars of the nation. Over the years, generation after generation of such individuals have served as exemplary leaders in advancing the cause of development and driving progress in our times. We must continue to tell their stories well, inspiring the whole of society to learn from their achievements and carry forward their spirit. It is hoped that the model workers and advanced individuals who have been commended will cherish their honors, remain true to their original aspirations, keep striving, and continue to make new contributions.

Comrades and friends!

The trade union movement, with a century-long history, now stands at a new historical starting point. The Party and the state place high hopes on trade union organizations, while workers and staff alike look forward to their continued service. Trade unions at all levels must fully implement the decisions and arrangements of the Party Central Committee, promote high-quality development of trade union work, and write an even more glorious chapter in the cause of China’s workers’ movement for our times.

We must uphold the correct political direction and closely unite the broad ranks of workers and the laboring masses around the Party. We must resolutely safeguard the authority of the Party Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, and ensure that Party leadership is fully implemented throughout all aspects and stages of trade union work. We must steadfastly use Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era to fortify our minds, guide our practice, and advance our work; firmly shoulder the political responsibility of leading workers and the masses to heed the Party’s words and follow its lead; focus on rallying people’s hearts, resolving conflicts, and stimulating motivation; and continuously consolidate the class and mass foundations of the Party’s governance.

We must adhere to a work orientation that puts employees at the center, wholeheartedly serve the workforce, and promote their all-round development. We will advance the improvement of labor laws and regulations, strengthen the democratic management system in enterprises and public institutions with the workers’ congress as its fundamental form, actively foster harmonious labor relations, and effectively safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of employees. Focusing on key areas such as skills training, income distribution, workplace safety, and labor protection, we will strive to refine the service system for protecting employees’ rights and interests, and address with dedication, empathy, and concerted effort the urgent, difficult, and pressing concerns of the broad ranks of workers.

We must deepen trade union reform and development, continuously enhancing our capacity to provide leadership, strengthen organizational cohesion, and deliver high-quality services. We will comprehensively strengthen Party building within the trade union system and cultivate a high-caliber, professional contingent of trade union officials who are loyal, clean, and accountable. Firmly upholding the reform orientation of strengthening political integrity, advanced character, and mass appeal, we will consolidate and fortify the organizational structure, expand the scope of services, and innovate working methods, always remaining trusted confidants and caring family members to workers and the general public. We will also actively engage in international exchanges, interactions, and cooperation, thereby fostering friendship with workers from all countries.

The trade union movement is an important component of the Party’s cause. Party committees at all levels must strengthen and improve their leadership over trade unions, promptly study and resolve major issues in trade union work, and create favorable conditions for trade unions to perform their duties.

Comrades and friends!

A century ago, at the triumphant close of the Second National Labor Congress, the rallying cry “Strive, strive, and strive to the very end” resounded throughout the venue, inspiring millions of working people to persevere through the stormy years of revolution and forge ahead with unyielding determination. Today, under the leadership of the Party, more than 1.4 billion Chinese people are marching forward with high spirits on the new journey toward Chinese modernization. Though the times have changed and our missions and tasks have evolved, the spirit of hard struggle, united struggle, and tireless striving will never waver. Let us rally even more closely around the Party Central Committee, remain down-to-earth, press ahead with vigor and initiative, and dedicate ourselves wholeheartedly to our work; let us embrace the new era through creativity, write new chapters of glory through struggle, and, step by step, turn the grand blueprint for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into reality!