BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- This year China's private businessmen will be eligible to become the country's "model and advanced workers," an honor usually given to workers in public sectors, a senior trade union official said.

    "We make this policy in line with the spirit of the 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC)," Zhang Junjiu, vice president of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions, said here Monday at a meeting on the recommendation and selection of model and advanced workers.

    The CPC Central Committee and the State Council will hold a meeting around May 1, the international Labor Day, to commend 3,000 national model and advanced workers. The federation plays a major role in the recommendation and selection process.

    The 16th National Congress of the CPC, held in late 2002, called for uniting with people from all social strata that make contributions to the prosperity of the nation, encouraging their creativity and commending the outstanding members.

    Speaking at Monday's meeting, State Councilor Hua Jianmin said commending national model and advanced workers is "a major event" of China's political life, as it helps foster an environment for valuing hard work, building a harmonious society and mobilizing all positive elements to push forward China's socialist modernization.