The Chinese trade unions stick to an independent development road with Chinese characteristics, said a senior official from the All-China Federation of Trade Unions (ACFTU) on Tuesday.

In a meeting with trade union leaders from Moldova, Gruzia, Azerbaijan, Belarus and Mongolia, Wang Zhaoguo, president of the ACFTU, said the trade union system should be diversified and there is no same trade union mode in the world.

Wang said China hopes to make joint efforts with all parties for the harmonious development of the international trade unions so as to make contributions to the world peace and prosperity.

A trade union leader from Moldova said that they had witnessed the highly effective work Chinese trade unions had done and they hoped more progress can be achieved.

The trade union leaders from the five nations attended an international seminar on trade union's role in building harmonious laboring relations Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the visiting trade union leaders from Africa hailed China's trade union as a "democratic and effective right-defending organization" during their visit in China's ancient capital of Xi'an.

(Xinhua News Agency September 20, 2006)