Chinese President Xi Jinping on November 24, addressed a gathering to honour model workers and exemplary individuals where he said China must closely rely on the working class to promote high-quality development and urged the country's working class and working people to strive for new and historic achievements in fully building a modern socialist country. Saying that 'model workers are elites of the Chinese nation, role models for the people and heroes of the republic', Xi said that the Party and the state have always attached great importance to giving play to the important roles of model workers and exemplary individuals. Xinhua (November 24) reported him describing the working class and working people as 'the main force to secure a decisive victory in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and winning the battle against poverty.' He called for efforts to promote and encourage the spirit of model workers, the value of work, and the pursuit of fine workmanship and said working is the source of all happiness. He said promoting the social norm of honouring work and fostering high-calibre workers is important and ordered that full play be given to the role of the working class as the main force upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics. Xi Jinping underscored efforts to realise, protect and develop the legitimate rights and interests of workers, and enable the working class and working people to have a stronger sense of fulfilment, happiness and security, adding that greater prominence must be given to stabilizing jobs, continuously increasing workers' income and building a multi-tiered social security system for them. As this year marks the 95th anniversary of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Xi Jinping asked the trade unions to draw upon their success and experience over the past 95 years and strive to do even better work. A total of 1,689 people were honoured as national role model workers and 804 as exemplary individuals. The meeting was presided over by Li Keqiang. Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Zhao Leji and Han Zheng also attended, while Wang Huning read the decision on the commendation at the meeting.