Senior trade unionists encouraged others to follow their example and make new contributions to the country's modernization drive.

At Friday's press conference organized by All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU), the federation's Vice-Chairman Li Qisheng said a total of 995 people from all walks of life will be awarded the "May 1 Labour Medal'' by the ACFTU for their outstanding accomplishments.

It has become a tradition of the federation to annually award around 1,000 hard-working people with a medal in commemoration of Labour Day.

He also said that to learn from model workers was to "love them, respect them and cherish them.''

Li called on society in general to support poverty-stricken retired model workers.

Trade unions at various levels must help model workers solve their problems early and constantly improve their working conditions, Li said.

He also encouraged all workers to make greater efforts and make more achievements as global competition intensifies.

"We are now in an era in which global competition is much more fierce and members of the working class, the guarantors of the State's prosperity, should adapt to the new situation and do everything possible to increase their knowledge and skills,'' said Li.

At the press conference, Li praised the working class and other labourers for playing an important role in China's reform, opening up and modernization drive.

Model workers should be loved, respected and cared for throughout China to encourage traditional virtues like dedication and self-discipline.

He said that by doing outstanding work in their ordinary jobs during the country's reform and opening-up, China's model workers have shown the world the noble character of the working class.

Their excellent example has shown the way during the current era and has played a key role in energetically leading Chinese people towards a specifically Chinese market economy, he said.

(China Daily April 19, 2003)