THE Communist Party branch of Walmart Zhongshan Store in Fenghuang Road, Luohu District, has developed a win-win mode since its founding Sept. 20, 2006.

    The 5-year-old Party branch was the first founded in a Walmart store in Guangdong Province, and has ex-soldier Hong Yansheng to be the branch’s chief.

    “There had been no opportunity for Walmart’s Party members to communicate before the branch was set up,” said Hong, who, along with several other Party members working at the store, discussed founding a branch in 2006.

    With support from Huangbei Subdistrict Office, Luohu District, Hong was determined to lead the branch.

    “I expected there would be a lot of difficulties involved in founding such a political organization in a foreign-invested company,” said Hong. “But my experience as a soldier made me say ‘Yes.’”

    Hong persuaded the company’s management that a Party branch could encourage Party members to do better in their work and would be a good platform to enhance the company’s development as well.

    In Hong’s mind, there were many things in common between the Party branch and Walmart, the most important being “Our people are our greatest assets.”

    Based on that, a number of Party activities were planned and carried out.

    “There’s no difference between Party activities in Chinese companies and foreign companies,” said Gao Xiaomao, administration manager of Walmart.

    “The Party activities were announced through the company’s intranet and foreign management teams were also invited to attend,” said Gao.

    “We had discussed a number of livelihood issues in the Party meetings such as promoting an eco-friendly lifestyle and food safety,” he said.

    The Party branch also launched a campaign promoting example services by Party members. Party members wear the Party insignia and provide more efficient and considerate services. Such services are regarded as the reputable signature of Walmart Zhongshan Store.

    The branch also promoted Walmart in nearby communities through a number of Party activities.

    After the founding of the Party branch at the Zhongshan store, the Party branch of Walmart (China) Investment Company was founded Dec. 15, 2006. There are more than 100 Party members in Walmart in Shenzhen now. (Tina Chen)