Chinese and African trade union leaders gathered in Beijing on Tuesday, seeking ways to facilitate China-Africa trade union cooperation.

Altogether 26 trade union leaders from 17 African countries joined a seminar on China-Africa trade union cooperation which opened here Tuesday morning.

They exchanged views with their Chinese counterparts on the subject of economic globalization and China-Africa trade union cooperation.

Addressing the seminar, Sun Chunlan, vice president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, said China highly treasures its traditional friendship with African trade unions, and is committed to boosting such friendly ties.

With the deepening of economic globalization, it is pressing for Chinese and African trade unions to consolidate friendship and enhance cooperation, she said.

Lots of these African trade union leaders are on their first-ever China trip. "We hope they could further increase understanding about China and the Chinese trade unions through the seminar," Sun said.

By now, China has set up links with more than 400 trade unions of over 150 countries.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2006)