Trade union congress salutes migrants

China's working classes are the driving force behind the creation of a well-off society, Vice-President Xi Jinping said on Friday, the opening day of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions' 15th national congress in Beijing.

In his speech, delivered on behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Xi called on trade unions to "earnestly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of workers, better voice employees' opinions and coordinate labor relations".

For the first time in the congress' history, this year's event is being attended by 47 representatives of the country's massive migrant workforce.