Chinese President Xi Jinping called for mobilizing the country’s workforce to pursue national rejuvenation during a ceremony Monday honoring model workers as China marked the 100th anniversary of its national trade union federation.
Xi emphasized the continued importance of the working class in China’s development strategy while addressing the gathering of over 2,400 individuals recognized for their contributions to the nation’s economy.
“No matter how historical conditions and social groups evolve, the status and role of the working class in China cannot be shaken,” Xi said.
The event honored 1,670 people as national role model workers and recognized 756 others as exemplary individuals in various sectors ranging from traditional manufacturing to emerging professions such as delivery services.
The ceremony, in its 17th edition, highlighted workers from diverse fields including agriculture, manufacturing, cultural preservation and new economic sectors. Xi used the platform to encourage society to learn from these model workers while urging honorees to “continue working hard to achieve new successes.”
Xi, who also serves as general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, has consistently emphasized the value of manual labor and the working class throughout his leadership.
During a 2013 session with national model workers, Xi noted that “people make history, and work creates the future,” adding that “happiness does not fall from the sky, nor do dreams come true automatically.”
The ceremony spotlighted success stories like the Fu family from Xinjiang’s Haermodun village, who have led local afforestation efforts near the Taklimakan Desert for four decades. Their work has created a 34-kilometer “Green Great Wall” of poplar trees to combat desertification.
“I will bend down, work diligently, plant one tree after another, one year after another,” said Fu Guoxi, who continues his late father’s pledge to plant one million trees.
Xi also called for promoting high-quality development by motivating “the broad masses of working people to strive for achievements and be innovative and creative.”
The government has implemented various programs to boost development, including sending agricultural science experts to rural areas, a practice Xi supported as Fujian’s governor in 2002 before it expanded nationwide.
Wu Jingcai, the first expert sent to Nanping in Fujian Province, continues helping farmers despite retirement. “It is truly rewarding to see farmers increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods,” Wu said.
Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, said the virtue of hard work holds special significance during challenging times.
“In the face of major changes in the external environment, Chinese people, hardworking and down-to-earth, keep the courage and confidence to overcome challenges,” Zhang said.
