Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers an important speech at a grand gathering to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and honor model workers and exemplary individuals at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, April 28, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua)

 
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for pooling the strength of the country's working class and working people and working hard in a down-to-earth manner to turn the grand blueprint of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation into reality.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a gathering to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions and honor model workers and exemplary individuals. 

This year's event is the 17th edition of its kind, and showcases the patriotism and creativity of workers in the new era. A total of 1,670 people were honored as national role model workers, while 756 were recognized as exemplary individuals, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday.

Apart from those working in the traditional sectors like agriculture and manufacturing, the honorees also include inheritors of fine traditional Chinese culture and representatives from new professions such as delivery workers and domestic service trainers.

No matter how historical conditions and social groups evolve, the status and role of the working class in China, the fundamental principle of relying wholeheartedly on the working class, and the nature and functions of the country's trade unions cannot be shaken, Xi said.

Xi called on the whole society to learn from the model workers and exemplary individuals, and promote their excellent qualities. Model workers and exemplary individuals should also cherish the honors they have received and continue working hard to achieve new successes.

Inspiration for people

Xi has made inspirational remarks in various occasions to commend people in different walks of life for their hard work, underscoring the significance of the leading role of the working class and working people. 

While addressing a discussion session with national model workers in 2013, Xi noted that "people make history, and work creates the future. Work is the fundamental force driving the progress of human society. Happiness does not fall from the sky, nor do dreams come true automatically."  

Xi, in a visit to the hutong neighborhoods of central Beijing in 2019, particularly dropped in on an express delivery station there. He praised the hard work of deliverymen, saying they were "busy as bees," bringing convenience to people's lives. 

"No matter how the times change, we must always treat work and working people with reverence and respect, and we must always attach significance to the leading role of the working class and working people." These words by Xi encapsulate his decades of concern, support and respect for the workforce, Xinhua reported in May 2022.

Among many inspired are the Fu family from Haermodun village in the Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. 

The father Fu Zhizhou started four decades ago as a pioneer in afforestation efforts in the village located near China's largest desert, the Taklimakan Desert in Xinjiang. 

Fu led his family and mobilized fellow villagers to plant poplar trees, which when connected, have a total length of 34 kilometers, forming a Green Great Wall that defies the arid landscape. 

After Fu Zhizhou passed away, Fu's children are now carrying forward the cause to complete his pledge to plant one million trees. As a sand control worker, "I will bend down, work diligently, plant one tree after another, one year after another," the second son Fu Guoxi told the Global Times.      

With determination and courage, people overcame the hostile environment and transformed the desert, and with unwavering efforts, people can achieve bigger goals, according to Fu.  

Down-to-earth manner 

At the Monday gathering, Xi said that on the new journey in the new era, it is imperative to focus on promoting high-quality development and motivate the broad masses of working people to strive for achievements and be innovative and creative.

For example, sending science and technology experts to boost local development has been one of China's measures to facilitate local development, and such creative and down-to-earth measures have yield fruitful outcomes with vivid examples across the country. 

The practice of sending sci-tech experts to rural areas was initiated in 1999 when the local government in Nanping, East China's Fujian Province, sought to upgrade its unproductive rural economy. 

In 2002, Xi, then governor of Fujian Province, appreciated the measure of Nanping in an article, saying it was a useful exploration in innovating rural work. In the same year, the measure was piloted in several other provinces and regions. It was promoted nationwide in 2009 and has gained bigger institutional support from the central authorities since 2012, according to Xinhua.

Wu Jingcai, number 001 of the first batch of 225 experts sent to Nanping, has retired from his job in a Fujian agrotechnological institute, but "never retired from work." In March, Wu received a phone call and went all the way to a village 160 kilometers away to help a farmer upgrade the shaddock variety. 

"I am happy and fortunate to be able to apply what I have learned to agricultural production. It is of great importance to me that when farmers are in need, I can help," Wu said. 

Agricultural sci-tech experts help farmers solve real problems and it is truly rewarding to see farmers increase their incomes and improve their livelihoods, Wu said. Part of Wu's job is to help farmers better cope with the ever-changing market as "there is no forever profit-making variety, and cultivators need to understand supply and demand."  

But one principle does not change, that is hard work will pay off, Wu said.  

Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University, told the Global Times on Monday that being hardworking is a traditional virtue of the Chinese nation, and the China of today was built by the hard work of its people, from generation to generation. 

The virtue of hard work has always been cherished in China, yet it is of unique significance in times of hardship, Zhang said, adding that in the face of major changes in the external environment at the moment, Chinese people, hardworking and down-to-earth, keep the courage and confidence to overcome challenges and march forward on the great path of national rejuvenation.