Wei Jianxing, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met Monday with a delegation from Japan's International Labor Foundation led by its President Teruhito Tokumoto.

Wei, also a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), said that it is important to allow workers to enroll in trade unions at a maximum level, to safeguard their legal rights and interests, and to encourage them to make a contribution to the country in the 10th five-year plan period starting from 2001.

He said that it is also essential to make progress in terms of establishing trade unions in new enterprises, safeguarding the legal rights and interests of workers who are facing economic difficulties, and setting up an effective mechanism for improving working relationships, while further improving legislation and policy-making related to the rights and interests of both workers and trade unions.

Wei expressed the hope that Chinese trade unions and Japan's International Labor Foundation will further promote exchanges and friendship and learn from each other in related areas. Tokumoto said that China has made achievements in its reform and opening-up drive, and China has played an important role in overcoming the Asian financial crisis.

He also expressed the hope that China will achieve even greater development.

The Japanese guests are here at the invitation of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions.

(Xinhua 12/11/2000)