Wal-Mart China Opens Communist Party Branch

Following the foundation of a trade union at its headquarters in November 2006, Wal-Mart China has now announced the establishment of a Communist Party Branch at its China headquarters in Shenzhen.

Wang Suiming, commissioner of the Shenzhen CPC Standing Committee and director of the Shenzhen Municipal Organization Department, says that the establishment of the Communist Party Branch at Wal-Mart China's headquarters shows that Shenzhen has made a great achievement in pushing foreign enterprises to open party branches in their companies. Wang also says this will help promote the city's efforts in constructing the "Two New Organizations"–economic organizations and new social organizations–particularly the construction of a party league in foreign-owned firms in the city.

Wang asks party members and members of the Two New Organizations to play an example and work to constantly expand the Communist Party's influence and sense of team spirit.

Since the beginning of this year, Shenzhen has been strengthening both the construction of its party league and labor unions in foreign enterprises in the city, and 30 companies, including Wal-Mart, have been listed as breakthrough points in this effort.

Since its entry into the Chinese market in 1996, Wal-Mart has developed more than 60 stores in China with over 30000 employees. The retailer now has 12 stores in Shenzhen, all of which have set up labor unions and now count more than 2000 union members.

Guo Xiaohui, secretary general of the Wal-Mart China's Communist Party Branch, says that all members of the party branch will exert the Communist Party's role as a pioneer and model to push forward both the party's construction and business of Wal-Mart in China.