The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens its 15th national congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 17, 2008.

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) opens its 15th national congress meeting here on Friday.

Chinese President Hu Jintao attended the meeting with more than1,600 representatives from across the country.

Vice President Xi Jinping delivered a speech on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. He urged the working class to become the main force in achieving new victories in building a well-off society in an all-round way.

The meeting was scheduled from Oct. 17 to 21.

Xi called on trade unions to earnestlysafeguardlegitimate rights and interests of employees, better voice employees' opinions and coordinate labor relations.

According to the country's Trade Union Law, trade unions are mass organizations formed by working people of their own free will and all shall represent the interests of the employees and protect their legitimate rights and interests.

If labor disputes occur between employers and employees, trade unions shall represent employees to negotiate with the employers, state employees' opinions and propose solution measures, the law states.

Xi also urged trade unions at all levels to play an active role in the reform, development and social stability, serve employees wholeheartedly and give them better technical and vocational training.

He called on trade unions on the mainland to promote dialogue and cooperation with trade union organizations in the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions to maintain the long-term prosperity and stability there.

Xi also encouraged trade unions on the mainland to enhance dialogue and cooperation with trade union organizations in Taiwan to promote the peace and cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.

"China's trade unions should unswervingly stick to the development road of building trade unions with Chinese characteristics," Xi said.

Wang Zhaoguo, chairman of the ACFTU, addressed the conference in a work report. He said that in the past three decades since China initiated the reform and opening up policy, trade unions were dedicated to reform and innovation and protecting employee's interests.

China has the largest number of trade union members in the world, with membership increasing from 123 million in 2003 to 209 million this year.

Wang, also the vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, said against the new background of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, the country's trade unions shouldered the responsibility of turning themselves into mass organizations of uniting employees, igniting their creativity, organizing employees to enjoy democratic rights and promoting social harmony.