On the afternoon of April 19, the first seminar of the 2025 region- and country-specific trade union research project was held in the Meeting Room 509 of Zhiyuan Building in Beijing Campus, CULR. It was attended by director Tao Zhiyong and deputy director Li Yi of the research office of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, Hou Yuxiang, dean of the Graduate School and dean of the School of Country and Region Studies, Beijing International Studies University, and Li Ke, a standing member of the party committee and vice president of CULR, together with nearly 20 attendants including Professor Lin Yanling, advisor of the region- and country-specific research project, the head of the office of international exchange and cooperation, and representatives of the research workgroup.

Director Tao Zhiyong affirmed the interim outcomes of the research project, and encouraged all participants to seize the opportunity to boldly exchange views, and make up for weaknesses in research. First, the workgroup should integrate the presently available research results in a systematic manner, and give priority to distinguishing the characteristics of trade union work in developed countries and developing countries, especially those in the countries along the Belt and Road, so as to provide reference for the work of Chinese trade unions. Second, the workgroup must adhere to the problem-oriented approach, prioritize the role of trade union and the stance of laborers, and reinforce the academic value and practical significance through continuous research. He also encouraged the workgroup to uphold an assiduous spirit to make greater contribution to the development of trade unions in China.

CULR vice president Li Ke emphasized in his speech that the workgroup should deeply understand the significance of the research project, build consensus and complete the required tasks with a strong sense of urgency and responsibility. The workgroup should attach importance to two aspects: first, the workgroup should adopt a result-oriented approach to leverage the present research advantages, and strictly follow the "problem-cause-countermeasure" framework to produce a research report and a think tank report at the same time; second, the office of international exchange and cooperation should fulfill its duties to provide guarantee services, and sort out expert opinions for targeted guidance of each research topic.

At the workshop, members of the workgroup shared the progress of their respective sub-reports. The attending experts commented on every completed part, and put forward pertinent opinions and detailed advices on revision of the draft research report.

On behalf of the workgroup, CULR vice president Li Ke presented the project advisor appointment certificates to dean Hou Yuxiang and Professor Lin Yanling.

The study of region- and country-specific trade unions is an important research task of CULR. The workshop is one of the annual activities of CULR to celebrate the centenary of ACFTU, and support the central assignments of ACFTU and China's trade union diplomacy. It demonstrated the interim research results of the workgroup, summed up the experts' guiding opinions, and clarified the way of thinking and orientation for the follow-up work of the research.

(Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, School of Labor Union)