China marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of Liu Ningyi, a senior Chinese worker's movement leader, calling on people to learn from his example in pursuing the cause of developing socialism with Chinese characteristics.

Xi Jinping, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, was also present at the ceremony on Friday.

Liu, born in 1907 in north China's Hebei Province, became a member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 1925 and participated and led several main workers' movements in the 1920s and 1930s.

He later became the president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) between 1958 and 1966 and died in 1994.

Liu stuck to the ideal of communism all his life and followed the rules to be a good CPC member, said Wang Zhaoguo, the ACFTU president, also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee.

"We shall learn from the older generation and follow their path to work for socialism with Chinese characteristics," he said.

(Xinhua News Agency December 8, 2007)