Wei Jianxing Meets US Visitors

People's Daily Online

September 23, 2002 20:14

Wei Jianxing, chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, also a member of the secretariat of the Central Committee and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of Chinese Communist Party, met a US trade union delegation at the Great Hall of People today. The delegation was led by Andy Stern, vice chairman of AFL-CIO and chairman of Service Employees International Union.

Wei Jianxing expressed his sincere welcome to the US Trade Union delegation and briefed the delegation on China’s present political and economic situation as well as ACFTU’s work. ACFTU is the largest trade union in the developing countries whereas AFL-CIO is the largest trade union in the developed countries. To enhance mutual exchanges and co-operation is vitally important, Wei said. There are differences between the two countries. ACFTU and AFL-CIO should look ahead, seeking common ground on major issues while reserving differences on minor ones. The two trade unions should also open up more dialogues and exchanges, and enhance mutual communication and understanding. ACFTU is willing to put constructive efforts to push forward exchanges and cooperation between the trade unions and workers of these two countries, and to promote the growth of constructive and cooperative Sino-US relations.

In his response, Andy Stern expressed his thanks for ACFTU’s invitation and that the visit opens the doors for the trade unions of the two countries to enhance contact, dialogue and exchanges. China’s tremendous changes during the last two decades of reform and opening-up have improved the lives of Chinese workers, Stern praised. He is willing to consolidate and develop exchanges and co-operation between industrial trade unions of the two countries. The US trade union delegation is here at the invitation of ACFTU.

Others attending the meeting included Zhang Junjiu, vice chairman and also first secretary of ACFTU.

Source: Xinhua News, September 23, 2002

Zhang Junjiu Meets AFL-CIO Visitors

Workers Daily Online

September 24, 2002 8:38 Workers' Daily Frontpage

Zhang Junjiu, vice chairman and first secretary of ACFTU met a US trade union delegation in the evening of September 23. The delegation was led by Andy Stern, vice chairman of AFL-CIO and chairman of Service Employees International Union.

AFL-CIO, formed in 1955, is the largest national trade union federation in ICFTU, and has great influence in the international trade union movement. AFL-CIO has 66 affiliates with 13 million members. AFL-CIO plays an important role in US domestic politics and economic and social affairs. The Service Employees International Union is the largest trade union in AFL-CIO with 1.5 million members, most of whom are nurses, doctors and social workers.

Chinese trade unions are willing to engage in dialogue and exchanges with US trade unions, Zhang Zunjiu said. Trade unions of the two countries have a lot to learn from each other.

Chairman Stern expressed that both ACFTU and AFL-CIO are the largest trade unions of the world’s important countries, and it is necessary to develop dialogue between the two, and initiate exchanges between industrial trade unions.

Xu Xicheng, vice chairman of ACFTU and Li Yonghai, vice chairman of Chinese Workers’ Centre for International Exchange, attended the meeting as well.

Wei Jianxing Meets Visitors from US Trade Unions

Workers' Daily Online

September 24, 2002 8:39 Workers' Daily Frontpage

Wei Jianxing, chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, also a member of the secretariat of the Central Committee and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of Chinese Communist Party, met a US trade union delegation at the People’s Hall today. The delegation was led by Andy Stern, vice chairman of AFL-CIO and chairman of Service Employees International Union.

Wei Jianxing expressed his sincere welcome to the US Trade Union delegation and briefed the delegation on China’s present political and economic situation as well as ACFTU’s work. ACFTU is the largest trade union in the developing countries whereas AFL-CIO is the largest trade union in the developed countries. To enhance mutual exchanges and co-operation is vitally important, Wei said. There are differences between the two countries. ACFTU and AFL-CIO should look ahead, seeking common ground on major issues while reserving differences on minor ones. The two trade unions should also open up more dialogues and exchanges, and enhance mutual communication and understanding. ACFTU is willing to put constructive efforts to push forward exchanges and cooperation between the trade unions and workers of these two countries, and to promote the growth of constructive and cooperative Sino-US relations.

In his response, Andy Stern expressed his thanks for ACFTU’s invitation and that the visit opens the doors for the trade unions of the two countries to enhance contact, dialogue and exchanges. China’s tremendous changes during the last two decades of reform and opening-up have improved the lives of Chinese workers, Stern praised. He is willing to consolidate and develop exchanges and co-operation between industrial trade unions of the two countries.

The delegation was here at the invitation of ACFTU. Others attending the meeting included Zhang Junjiu, vice chairman and first secretary of ACFTU, Xu Xicheng, ACFTU vice chairman, and Li Yonghai, vice chairman of Chinese Workers’ Centre for International Exchange.

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Online: 2002-09-24