Trade Unions president goes to China at last

New Zealand Council of Trade Unions president Ross Wilson finally flies to China today after initially having his visa withdrawn.

Mr Wilson was to attend an Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) seminar in Beijing last December with other union delegates from 20 countries to discuss raising labour standards in China.

But at the last minute, a decision was made at the "highest political level in China" to cancel the meeting and invalidate all participants' visas, citing "inappropriate and inconvenient timing", Mr Wilson said at the time.

Mr Wilson said in a statement today he would be talking to government officials, union and business leaders and investors.

The CTU delegation includes vice president Helen Kelly, and representatives from other unions.

The delegation was visiting Beijing and Shanghai for a week at the invitation of the All China Federation of Trade Unions.

"Our discussions will include economic and trade issues as well as trade union issues," he said.

"And I will certainly be raising the issue of the OECD seminar which was cancelled."

- NZPA