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Wal-Mart Bends to Party Rules In China, Allowing Store Cells
Wall Street Journal ^ | December 19, 2006 | Mei Fong

Posted on 12/19/2006 11:35:43 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks

Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's biggest retailer, said employees have established a branch of the Communist Party at its headquarters in China.

The party branch was set up in the southern city of Shenzhen, where Wal-Mart runs its fast-expanding China business, Jonathan Dong, the company's spokesman in China, said. The branch, which was inaugurated Friday, follows the establishment of similar party organizations in five Wal-Mart stores throughout the country since August, Mr. Dong said.

The Communist Party's spread into Wal-Mart shows how the party is changing. Party groups have long played an important role in state-owned enterprises, but in recent years the Communist Party has made efforts to embrace entrepreneurs and increase its presence in private businesses. Other foreign companies that have Communist Party branches in China include local subsidiaries of U.S. chemical maker DuPont Co. and Japanese retailer Isetan Co.

Lu Xianfu, the retired director at the Party School of the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee, said building these branches helps foreign companies "better develop their businesses" by raising the role of party members in the companies. In addition, he said, "it helps our party to unite the public."

Xia Jincheng, party secretary in Wal-Mart's Tianjin store, said most members in Wal-Mart's party cells are midlevel or senior executives, who participate in such activities as studying party materials. His branch has 20 party members, said Mr. Xia, who also heads Wal-Mart Tianjin's public-relations department.

Other multinational companies operating in China have Communist Party branches, and analysts said they generally don't interfere with such companies' management. The party's constitution requires that any company with more than three party members among its employees set up a branch.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: chicoms; china; communism; communistparty; partycells; partymembers; prc; walmart
More about communist cells in Wal-Mart:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/1755028/posts

1 posted on 12/19/2006 11:35:46 AM PST by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

If Walmart sells Chinese goods in American Walmart stores,

does Walmart sell American goods in Chinese Walmart stores?


2 posted on 12/19/2006 11:52:48 AM PST by Redcitizen (My other OmniMech is a Masakari)
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Oh, wait. We'll be told it's just the way things are done in China.

My neighbor opened up a business in China. He told all about the bribes he had to pay and the hookers and booze provided for him.

3 posted on 12/19/2006 11:54:31 AM PST by raybbr (You think it's bad now - wait till the anchor babies start to vote.)
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To: Redcitizen

They promote western ideals. More important candy bars.


4 posted on 12/19/2006 11:54:38 AM PST by afraid
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To: Redcitizen
If Walmart sells Chinese goods in American Walmart stores, does Walmart sell American goods in Chinese Walmart stores?

What American goods? Oh, wait... rope.

5 posted on 12/19/2006 12:11:10 PM PST by Grut
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To: Tolerance Sucks Rocks

No true capitalist would ever kiss the butts of Communists. What our problem is, is that we have allowed this sort of hybrid creature, a sort of capitalist-globalist-socialist, to develop within our corporate community in the West. What a darn shame.


6 posted on 12/19/2006 12:17:18 PM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: GOP_1900AD

Are you saying that instead of Communism being a type of 'Evil Empire' in the 80's, is now 'Good for Business'?


7 posted on 12/19/2006 12:25:15 PM PST by FLOutdoorsman ("If there must be trouble let it be in my day, that my child may have peace.")
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To: FLOutdoorsman

Communism is seen as an interesting and curious feature of a diverse foreign culture. And therefore, since a good "corporate citizen" does not discriminate against differentness, and is globally inclusive, the good "corporate citizen" figures out how to get along with Communists. (Obviously I personally, vehemently disagree with this mindset, I am simply describing it as I see it.)


8 posted on 12/19/2006 12:37:54 PM PST by GOP_1900AD (Stomping on "PC," destroying the Left, and smoking out faux "conservatives" - Take Back The GOP!)
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To: GOP_1900AD

Reprisal time: Every product imported into the U.S. from China should be required to carry the words "God Bless America and its capitalist way of life".


9 posted on 12/19/2006 12:56:26 PM PST by AZLiberty (I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. -- Dickens, A Christmas Carol)
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To: Redcitizen

Yes, that is true. In America just like in China, they sell made in the USA, except in their case it's like finding a needle in a haystack, you'd spend days looking for it unless you get lucky.

Wal Mart has a buy local policy, so if you go to Wal Mart Canada, it's a mix of Asian Imports, Canadian & American products. You'll find alot of exclusive products there you would find there.

But since we are talking about a store where most of their imports come from, you can bet there is a buy local policy where 99.99% of the stuff come from China and it's surrounding neighbors.


10 posted on 12/19/2006 3:40:12 PM PST by Petey139
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