China, Finland vow to strengthen trade union co-op

BEIJING, April 15 (Xinhua) -- China's top trade union leader Wang Zhaoguo met here Tuesday with a delegation from the Finnish Central Trade Union (FCTU), vowing to facilitate exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.

Wang, chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) and also vice-chairman of China's National People's Congress Standing Committee, told FCTU chairman Lanri Armas Ihalainen that the Chinese trade unions are ready to cement friendly ties with the FCTU on the basis of independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs.

"Economic globalization brings similar challenges to the countries on the world", Wang said, calling on the two sides to cooperate closely to promote the building up of a just, reasonable, democratic and harmonious new order of international trade union movement.

Ihalainen said that the FCTU highly values its friendly and cooperative ties with Chinese trade unions, expressing his hope to further promote the mutual understanding and cooperation between Finnish and Chinese trade unions.