BEIJING (ILO News) – On 13 December 2019, the ILO Country Office for China and Mongolia, its friends and supporters, came together to celebrate the end of 2019 which marked the 100 years anniversary of the Organisation. The event, which gathered over 100 guests including the tripartite constituents, academia, civil society organisations and the diplomatic community, provided a unique opportunity to review and celebrate the rich cooperation between the ILO and China over the last century.

China is an ILO founding member, and the first ILO Office was established in Nanjing in 1930 to assist the government in the improvement of the harsh working conditions prevailing at the time, but also to strengthen the participation of developing countries in the ILO governing structure. “The ILO is an avant-garde of global governance,” said Associate-Professor Chen Yifeng from Peking University Law School who addressed the event.

The ILO-China interaction and cooperation became more substantial and diversified after China resumed active membership in ILO in the 1980s. Former Directors of the ILO Beijing Office Mr Ng Gek-Boo (1988-1991) and Mr Jean-Victor Gruat(1992-1996) described how they witnessed the rapid and massive changes that have taken place in the country. Ms Zhang Youyun, former Director at the ILO Headquarter (1994-2003), who established the first Gender Equality Bureau shared with passion and humour her pioneer’s experience. Referring to the recently adopted ILO Tripartite Declaration on a human centred approach to the future of work, Mr Hao Bin, Director-General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, said “It is a victory of multilateralism over unilateralism.”

During the event, the Chinese edition of a book entitled “If you want peace, cultivate justice”  recollecting the 100 years of ILO’s fascinating existence was launched. “Building on these 100 years of turbulent history, the ILO looks forward to continuing working with all its partners for a bright future of peace, social justice and decent work for all in the next century! ” Claire Courteille-Mulder concluded.