Wei, also a Standing Committee member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China, made the remarks at a meeting with K.L. Mahendra, president of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).

Wei said that the ACFTU is to make greater progress this year in setting up trade unions in new enterprises, safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of those workers that are in difficulty, and establishing an effective mechanism of readjusting the labor relations.

The federation will devote greater efforts to participating in law-making related to the rights of the workers and the trade unions, Wei stated.

China's economic relations and labor relations have undergone profound changes since the introduction of the reform and opening up policies, Wei said, noting that the tasks of the trade unions have become prominent in terms of their participating in coordinating the labor relations and safeguarding the employees' rights and interests.

Under the new circumstances, Wei said, the ACFTU is trying, to the farthest, to organize the vast majority of workers into trade unions, to safeguard their legitimate rights, as well as to give free rein to the initiatives and creativity of workers.

Wei also briefed Mahendra on China's current political and economic situation.

Mahendra said his federation appreciated the progress China has scored in its course of reform and development, noting it is willing to further tighten friendly cooperation and exchanges with the ACFTU.

The delegation are here as guests of the ACFTU.

(Xinhua 02/13/2001)