President Xi Jinping on Sunday extended festive greetings and best wishes to the country's working people ahead of International Workers' Day, which falls on May 1, and called on them to make efforts to advance Chinese modernization.

While sending the greetings on behalf of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Xi, who is also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, called on working people to foster an ethos of work, foster respect for model workers, and promote quality workmanship.

He said that this year marks the beginning of full implementation of the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, and it is also a key year for carrying out the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

Xi encouraged all working people nationwide to work diligently and boldly engage in innovation to make solid progress in advancing Chinese modernization, and play a leading role in the new journey of building China into a strong socialist country and realizing national rejuvenation.

Party committees and governments at all levels should take measures to stimulate the enthusiasm, innovation and creativity of working people, as well as protect their legitimate rights and interests, and earnestly help them solve their problems and difficulties, Xi said.

A social atmosphere in which work and working people are treated with reverence and great respect should be promoted, he added.