The Second Session of the Fifth Congress of Employee Representatives and the Congress of Trade Union Members of the Group Company was solemnly convened on June 30 in the Headquarters Auditorium. A total of 116 employee representatives from all fronts across the company attended the meeting, entrusted with a weighty mandate and diligently fulfilling their sacred duties as employee representatives.

The atmosphere in the headquarters auditorium was solemn yet vibrant, suffused with a spirit of unity and progress. The company’s logo, prominently displayed at the center of the stage backdrop, gleamed brilliantly against the backdrop of a vivid red flag.

Zhong Yiming, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Group Company, presided over the conference. Members of the Presidium—Zhang Xiangyang, Zhang Zhongda, Huang Jing, Chen Jianqing, Xing Guangzhong, Shao Jinman, Chen Guoli, Yu Fengbin, Yin Yougen, Wang Jun, Qiu Lin, Li Guang, Yi Xingzhong, Ling Jinxiang, Dai Jianbin, Wang Shaobo, Xu Chunyang, Guo Qiyun, Cui Jiansheng, and Chen Minghua—took their seats on the rostrum.

At 2:00 p.m., Zhong Yiming announced the opening of the Second Session of the Fifth 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.

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 “Uphold Firm Confidence, Rise to Challenges, Assume Responsibility with Courage, Turn Crises into Opportunities for Survival, and Strive Unremittingly to Promote High-Quality Enterprise Development Across the Board.” The report was divided into two parts: a review of the work accomplished in 2022 and the objectives and tasks for 2023.

In his report, Zhang Zhongda pointed out that 2022 was an exceptionally significant year in the history of the Party and the country: it marked the 70th anniversary of the company’s founding and was a pivotal year for implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan and advancing high-quality development. Over the past year, under the wise leadership of the Party Committee of the Group, the Board of Directors, and the General Manager’s Office, all cadres and employees adhered to the overarching principle of prioritizing stability while seeking progress amid stability, worked with unwavering determination and courage, effectively coordinated epidemic prevention and control with production and operations, focused on preventing and defusing major risks, strived to stabilize the overall economy, and promoted the company’s high-quality development. Despite the complex and ever-changing environment, the company essentially accomplished its key annual objectives and tasks, maintaining a steady momentum of sound operations even as it tackled tough challenges and overcame obstacles. Although operating performance declined somewhat over the year, the company made steady progress in market expansion, continuously enhanced corporate governance, innovated in talent management, advanced scientific and technological progress, and achieved remarkable results in Party building and cultural development.

In his report, Zhang Zhongda pointed out that 2023 marks the inaugural year for fully implementing the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and serves as a pivotal year for the company to carry forward the achievements of the 14th Five-Year Plan while paving the way for the next phase. The overarching guiding principle for the company’s work in 2023 is to take Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as our guide, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress and the Central Economic Work Conference, adhere to the general principle of prioritizing stability while seeking progress within stability, comprehensively apply the new development philosophy, accelerate the establishment of a new development pattern, vigorously promote high-quality development, better coordinate domestic and international markets, and place particular emphasis on ensuring stable operations, guarding against risks, optimizing the structure, reducing costs, enhancing quality and efficiency, pursuing innovation, and strengthening Party building. Through these efforts, we will strive to achieve an overall improvement in the company’s economic performance, realize effective quality enhancement and reasonable quantitative growth, and—during what is arguably the most challenging period for the industry—ensure survival while pursuing development, thereby sustaining the enterprise’s steady and sound operational trajectory. In light of the Group’s stage-specific development goals and the current market conditions, Zhang Zhongda outlined in the report the Group’s key economic targets and work tasks for 2023.

In his report, Zhang Zhongda outlined the company’s key priorities for 2023: first, to remain committed to the core business of engineering contracting and make every effort to stabilize and enhance performance in the domestic market; second, to adhere to the “going global” strategy and consolidate and strengthen our presence in international markets; third, to uphold strict risk thresholds and comprehensively prevent and resolve major corporate risks; fourth, to persist in continuously improving the sophistication and effectiveness of management; fifth, to stay true to the strategy of innovation-driven development and inject new momentum into high-quality growth; sixth, to implement the talent-strengthening strategy and build a high-caliber workforce; seventh, to adopt a mindset of austere management and carry forward the enterprise’s fine tradition of hard work and entrepreneurship; and eighth, to further strengthen Party building and corporate culture 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 Responsibilities, and Rally and Lead the Broad Mass of Cadres and Employees in Striving to Usher in a New Phase of High-Quality Development for the Group Company.” In his report, he reviewed the past year’s trade union work from five key perspectives: focusing on ideological guidance to unite hearts and pool strength for the enterprise’s high-quality development; focusing on central tasks to make contributions and achieve success in advancing high-quality development; focusing on democratic management to foster harmony in the workplace; focusing on skills enhancement to lay a solid foundation for high-quality development; and focusing on serving as a bridge and link to empower and sustain high-quality development. He also outlined the main priorities for the trade union’s work in 2023: first, upholding Party leadership and closely following the core; second, staying centered on the overall mission and serving the bigger picture; third, adopting a problem-oriented approach and deepening reform; fourth, safeguarding rights in accordance with the law and improving services; and fifth, placing strong emphasis on grassroots work and consolidating the foundation.

The Congress reviewed and approved the “Report on Trade Union Financial Work,” the “Report on Trade Union Economic Audit Work,” the “Revised Draft Measures for Rewards and Penalties in Technical Quality Management,” and the “Revised Draft Measures for Rewards and Penalties in Safe Production and Civilized Construction.”

The conference reviewed and adopted the resolutions of the Second Session of the Fifth Congress of Employee Representatives and the Trade Union Congress. The conference called on all cadres and employees to, under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, fully implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, maintain firm confidence, rise to challenges, assume responsibility courageously, turn crises into opportunities for survival and development, and strive to bring about an overall improvement in the company’s economic performance. All this is aimed at comprehensively advancing high-quality enterprise development and unremittingly striving to realize the vision of building Nantong Construction Engineering into a century-old, strong enterprise!

At the conference, Huang Jing, Secretary of the Board of Directors, read out the Decision on Commending the Group Company’s Advanced Units, Outstanding Individuals, Advanced Party Branches, Outstanding Party Members, and Outstanding Party Affairs Workers for 2022, and the conference proceeded to confer awards on the recognized advanced collectives and individuals.

Zhang Xiangyang, Chairman of the Group Company, delivered an important address at the conference. He pointed out that the Second Session of the Fifth Congress of Employee Representatives and Members was a highly successful and smoothly conducted event—one that not only aligned thinking and clarified tasks but also bolstered confidence and boosted morale. He urged all subsidiaries, headquarters departments, and all cadres and employees to closely integrate the spirit of the conference with their respective work realities, study and thoroughly grasp its key messages, and make every possible effort to ensure effective implementation. On behalf of the Group Company, he extended warm congratulations to the advanced collectives and individuals honored for 2022. He then put forward four key points regarding the current situation and tasks facing the company’s development and the next steps to be taken: first, gain a deep understanding of the difficulties and challenges confronting the enterprise’s survival and development; second, remain steadfast in confidence and spare no effort to safeguard survival while pursuing growth; third, adopt a pragmatic and results-oriented approach, focus on concrete action, and ensure the successful completion of all annual objectives and tasks; and fourth, strengthen leadership team and workforce development to forge a united force for the company’s continued progress. He emphasized that all levels of the company must recognize both the complexity and severity of the internal and external environment affecting corporate development, thereby enhancing their conscious commitment and proactive efforts to secure survival and pursue growth. At the same time, they should also acknowledge the improving macroeconomic conditions and the inherent strengths of the enterprise itself, maintain firm confidence, rise to challenges, and cultivate unwavering determination and courage to achieve success in safeguarding survival and driving development. To this end, it is essential to engage in forward-looking planning, prioritize key areas, place strict discipline at the forefront, continue to uphold the corporate spirit of “hardship-driven entrepreneurship and pioneering spirit,” persist in diligent and practical work, introduce effective measures, deliver tangible results, and focus on real outcomes, so as to vigorously advance this year’s priority initiatives. Furthermore, we must strengthen leadership team building, workforce development, Party branch construction, and ideological guidance, fully leveraging the Party’s political, organizational, and mass-work advantages to align the thoughts and actions of all cadres and employees with the Group’s decisions and deployments, thereby pooling powerful synergies for the company’s development. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, all levels of the company must comprehensively implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, remain resolute in confidence, confront difficulties head-on, assume responsibility boldly, turn crises into opportunities for survival, strive to promote high-quality enterprise development, and jointly create a brighter future for Nantong Construction Engineering!

During the meeting, Zhong Yiming put forward two requirements for effectively implementing the spirit of this session of the Employees’ Congress and the Trade Union Congress. First, it is essential to study the会议精神 thoroughly and align thinking and action. All units and departments should organize study sessions in a conscientious manner, ensuring that the reports from the two congresses—particularly the important remarks delivered by Chairman Zhang Xiangyang—are communicated comprehensively, accurately, and promptly to all cadres and employees. The spirit of the congresses should be leveraged to boost morale, consolidate strength, and ignite enthusiasm, thereby aligning the thoughts and actions of all cadres and employees with the Group’s work guidelines and strategic decisions for 2023. This will provide strong impetus for achieving the annual objectives and tasks and for advancing the enterprise’s high-quality development. Second, the spirit of the congresses must be earnestly implemented through concrete measures. All units and departments should, in accordance with the fundamental principles and key requirements set forth in the Administrative Work Report, further clarify their work strategies and formulate or refine their respective work priorities and implementation plans. Attention should be focused on the eight areas of work outlined in the Administrative Work Report for 2023 and the four points raised in Chairman Zhang Xiangyang’s important address; each should be carefully compared and detailed, with specific alignment to individual responsibilities and assigned tasks. A thorough review should be conducted to identify shortcomings and gaps, and deep-rooted causes such as insufficient subjective effort and management deficiencies should be rigorously examined and reflected upon. On this basis, mindsets must be adjusted, working methods improved, and operational efficiency enhanced to ensure that all work arrangements are fully implemented.

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

(Party and Mass Work Department, Ji Yan)