On the afternoon of May 30, the First Session of the Sixth Congress of Employee Representatives and the Congress of Trade Union Members of the Group Company was solemnly convened in the Headquarters Auditorium. A total of 106 employee representatives from all fronts across the company attended the meeting and conscientiously fulfilled their sacred duties as employee representatives.

The atmosphere in the headquarters’ auditorium was both solemn and enthusiastic, with the company’s logo prominently displayed at the center of the stage backdrop, flanked by vibrant red flags.

Zhong Yiming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Group Company, presided over the meeting. The meeting first approved the list of members of the Presidium, which includes Zhang Xiangyang, Zhang Zhongda, Zhong Yiming, Huang Jing, Chen Jianqing, Xing Guangzhong, Shao Jinman, Chen Guoli, Yu Fengbin, Yin Yougen, Wang Jun, Qiu Lin, Li Guang, Yi Xingzhong, Guo Qiyun, Wang Shaobo, Ling Jinxiang, Xu Chunyang, Cui Jiansheng, Chen Yao, and Jiang Jibing.

A total of 126 delegates were expected to attend the First Session of the Sixth Congress of Employee Representatives and the Congress of Trade Union Members. At the afternoon session on the 30th, 106 delegates were present, meeting the statutory quorum requirement.

At 1:00 p.m., Zhong Yiming announced the opening of the First Session of the Sixth Congress of Employee Representatives and the Congress of Trade Union Members of Nantong Construction Engineering Group Co., Ltd. All attendees rose to their feet as the national anthem was played.

Cheng Fei, a member of the Party Leadership Group and Vice Chairman of the Nantong Municipal Federation of Trade Unions, and Du Zhengfang, Head of the Department of Directly Affiliated Union Work, were invited to attend the conference in person and provide guidance. In an enthusiastic address, Chairman Cheng highly commended the company’s achievements in reform and development as well as its trade union work. At the same time, drawing closely on the company’s actual circumstances, he put forward practical and feasible recommendations and expressed earnest hopes for the future work of the company’s trade union, which profoundly inspired and greatly encouraged all delegates, further strengthening their confidence and determination to ensure survival and pursue development.

According to the meeting agenda, Zhang Zhongda, General Manager of the Group Company, delivered an administrative work report on behalf of the General Manager’s Office, entitled “Unify Thinking, Firmly Uphold Confidence, Tackle Tough Challenges, Turn Crisis into Opportunity, and Strive Unremittingly to Achieve the Enterprise’s Sustainable, Steady, and Healthy Development.” The report was divided into two parts: a review of the work accomplished in 2024 and the objectives and tasks for 2025.

In his report, Zhang Zhongda pointed out that 2024 has been an exceptionally extraordinary year marked by significant risks and challenges in the company’s development journey. Faced with an unprecedentedly complex and severe situation—characterized by sluggish domestic and global economic recovery and a sustained downturn in the construction industry that has exceeded expectations—the Party Committee, the Board of Directors, and the General Manager’s Office of the Group have led all cadres and employees in adhering to the overarching principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability and using progress to promote stability. By accurately assessing the situation, bolstering confidence, rising to challenges, turning crises into opportunities for survival, and striving for incremental improvements in business operations, market expansion, and management quality and efficiency, while steadily advancing talent development and deepening technological innovation, and leveraging Party building to forge cohesive synergy, the company has continued to maintain a steady and healthy growth trajectory. While acknowledging these achievements, the report also provides a thorough analysis of the grave circumstances and formidable challenges confronting the company’s current development, thereby setting a clear course for future improvements.

In his report, Zhang Zhongda pointed out that 2025 marks the final year of the company’s 14th Five-Year Plan and is also a pivotal year for the Group in its most challenging period of industry development—a year in which survival must be secured while striving for further growth. We must remain acutely aware at all times that this year brings greater difficulties, heavier tasks, and greater responsibilities. The report sets forth the company’s overall work approach for 2025: guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th CPC Central Committee, and the Central Economic Work Conference; steadfastly upholding the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability; closely focusing on the eight-character business guideline of “contraction, cost reduction, capability enhancement, and international expansion”; and comprehensively carrying out all related efforts, including ensuring stable operations, guarding against risks, strengthening internal capabilities, improving management, cultivating talent, promoting innovation, fostering corporate culture, and reinforcing Party building. Through unified thinking and unwavering confidence, we will tackle tough challenges, turn crises into opportunities for survival, and continuously advance the enterprise’s sustained, steady, and healthy development. In light of the company’s 14th Five-Year Plan and the current severe conditions in the construction market, the report outlines the Group’s key economic targets and work assignments for 2025.

Zhang Zhongda outlined the key priorities for 2025: first, to deepen and refine our efforts to consolidate the domestic market; second, to leverage our strengths to expand and enhance the quality of our international markets; third, to adopt targeted policies to prevent and resolve major risks; fourth, to relentlessly advance the refined management of project costs; fifth, to take a holistic approach and optimize human resource allocation; sixth, to strengthen the application of technology and continuously promote scientific and technological innovation; seventh, to practice strict economy and carry forward the tradition of diligence and frugality; and eighth, to let Party building provide leadership and continuously deepen cultural development.

At the conference, Wang Shaobo, Chairman of the Trade Union of the Group Company, delivered a work report titled “Unite Hearts and Pool Strength, Step Up to Our Responsibilities, Bolster Confidence, Overcome Difficulties Together, and Unite and Lead All Employees in Fully Promoting the Enterprise’s Sustained, Steady, and Healthy Development.” In his report, he reviewed the trade union’s work over the past three years from five key perspectives: first, forging the soul with “original aspiration” by strengthening Party consciousness and providing strong leadership to consolidate the ideological foundation; second, safeguarding workers’ rights with “sincere dedication” by establishing mechanisms and ensuring smooth channels for voicing concerns and protecting workers’ interests; third, building a warm “home” with “heartfelt care” by improving benefits and delivering practical results to create a harmonious workplace; fourth, empowering through “artisan spirit” by organizing skills competitions and cultivating talent to stimulate creative vitality; and fifth, strengthening the foundation with “perseverance” by honing internal capabilities and enhancing efficiency to forge a highly competent workforce. On this basis, he outlined the overall plan and priority tasks for the trade union’s work over the next three years: first, using “original aspiration” as the guiding principle to build a “politically oriented trade union”; second, employing “sincere dedication” as the safeguard to build a “service-oriented trade union”; third, fostering a “warm and welcoming environment” with “heartfelt care” to build a “warm-hearted trade union”; fourth, reinforcing the foundation with “artisan spirit” to build a “skills-based trade union”; and fifth, consolidating the roots with “perseverance” to build a “pragmatic and action-oriented trade union.”

The Congress reviewed and adopted draft versions of the following documents: the Report on Administrative Work, the Report on Trade Union Work, the Report on Trade Union Financial Work, the Report on the Examination of Trade Union Funds, the Collective Contract, the Revised Draft of the Compensation Management System, the Implementation Opinions on Optimizing Staff Allocation and Strengthening Labor Employment Management, and the Opinions on Adjusting the Procedures for Disbursing Employee Housing (Rent) Subsidies.

The Congress voted to adopt the Election Procedures for the New Term of Union Committee Members, Financial Audit Committee Members, Women Workers’ Committee Members, and Employee Supervisors, and proceeded to elect the members of the Sixth Union Committee, the Financial Audit Committee, and the Women Workers’ Committee of the Group Company. Guo Qiyun was elected Chair of the Sixth Union Committee of the Group Company; Wang Xiaqian was elected Vice Chair of the Sixth Union Committee; Zhi Hongjun was elected Director of the Sixth Financial Audit Committee; Zhu Jiayu was elected Director of the Sixth Women Workers’ Committee; and Wang Xiaqian, Chen Yao, and Shi Hui were elected as employee supervisors on the Eighth Supervisory Board of the Group Company. The Congress also reviewed and approved the resolutions adopted at the First Session of the Sixth Congress of Employee Representatives and the Sixth Congress of Union Representatives. The Congress called upon all cadres and employees to, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, carry forward and promote the corporate spirit of “hard work and pioneering,” align our thinking, strengthen our confidence, overcome difficulties and surmount obstacles, turn crises into opportunities for survival, and make unremitting efforts to achieve the enterprise’s sustained, stable, and healthy development.

Huang Jing, a member of the Party Committee of the Group Company and Secretary of the Board of Directors, read out at the conference the Decision on Commending the Group Company’s Advanced Units, Advanced Individuals, Advanced Party Branches, Outstanding Party Members, and Outstanding Party Affairs Workers for 2024. The conference then presented awards to the advanced collectives and individuals.

Zhang Xiangyang, Chairman of the Group Company, delivered an important address at the meeting (the full text is on Page 1), putting forward four key points for implementing the spirit of this Employees’ Congress and for doing a good job in the period ahead: first, to gain a profound understanding of the complex and severe situation and the risks and challenges facing the company’s current development; second, to genuinely strengthen the company’s confidence and resolve in ensuring its survival and pursuing development; third, to clarify our thinking, set clear objectives, and make concerted efforts to carry out the priority tasks for safeguarding the company’s survival and promoting its development; and fourth, to transform our work style, rigorously ensure effective implementation, and thereby guarantee the company’s sustained, stable, and healthy development. He emphasized that we must focus on four key areas—“adhering to two principles and achieving comprehensive progress”—to ensure the successful implementation and tangible results of the eight-character strategic guideline of “contraction, cost reduction, capability building, and international expansion” aimed at securing the company’s survival and fostering its development. Specifically: we must simultaneously pursue both domestic and international markets; we must put people first, accelerate talent development, and build an outstanding management team; we must comprehensively prevent and defuse major risks to establish a robust firewall for the company’s survival and growth; and we must fully implement refined management to create low-cost competitive advantages and brand strengths. In closing, he called on all employees of Nantong Construction to recognize that the mission before us is more glorious, the tasks more arduous, the challenges more daunting, and the responsibilities greater than ever. The entire company must align its thinking, bolster its confidence, overcome tough obstacles, turn crises into opportunities for survival, and strive unremittingly to achieve the company’s sustained, stable, and healthy development and to fulfill the aspirations of all cadres and employees for a better life!

During the meeting, Zhong Yiming put forward three requirements for thoroughly implementing the spirit of this session of the Employees’ Congress and the Workers’ Congress, as well as the important speech delivered by Chairman Zhang Xiangyang: First, conduct in-depth study and effective communication. All units and departments should convene special meetings to organize thorough study sessions, ensuring that the spirit of the congress is conveyed comprehensively, accurately, and promptly to all cadres and employees. It is essential to clearly explain the current situation and the tasks at hand, so as to boost morale, consolidate strength, and ignite enthusiasm through the congress’s guiding principles. This will further strengthen the confidence and resolve of all cadres and employees in safeguarding their livelihoods and pursuing development, thereby injecting powerful spiritual impetus into the comprehensive promotion of the enterprise’s sustained, stable, and healthy growth. Second, rigorously ensure accountability. All units and departments should, in accordance with the fundamental spirit of the Administrative Work Report, further clarify their lines of work and engage in systematic planning. They should focus on the eight areas of work outlined in the 2025 Administrative Work Report, systematically compare and refine each item, formulate specific work objectives and plans tailored to their own circumstances, designate responsible individuals for each objective, improve working methods, enhance work efficiency, and ensure that all work arrangements are effectively implemented. Third, strengthen democratic management. The trade unions at both levels should continue to serve as effective bridges and links, further innovating approaches to democratic management, respecting the principal status of employees, and giving full play to their pioneering spirit. Centered on the company’s core tasks—such as business expansion, prevention and resolution of major risks, refined management, and increasing revenue while reducing expenditures—the unions should vigorously launch initiatives like “I Offer a Proposal for Enterprise Development,” thereby promoting democracy, broadly soliciting public wisdom, and rallying the entire workforce into a powerful synergy to fully advance the enterprise’s sustained, stable, and healthy development.

The conference concluded successfully to the rousing strains of “We Workers Have Great Strength.”

(Party and Mass Work Department, Ji Yan)