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On September 30, 2004, Mr. Joe Hatfield, Senior Vice President of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., President & CEO of Wal-Mart Asia, was honored 2004 Friendship Award by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs in the Great Hall of the People. He was warmly received by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, and was invited to the state banquet to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the founding of P.R.C.

The “Friendship Award”, established by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, is a state-level award set up to thank and recommend outstanding foreign experts who have made significant contributions to China’s modernization. As early as 1954, Premier Zhou Enlai awarded appreciation certificates to foreign experts for their remarkable contribution to China’s development. That was the origin of the Friendship Award. Since China adopted its opening-up policy, more and more foreign experts came to work in China, and now the number has reached 240,000. Joe Hatfield won this honor for his excellent contribution to China’s economy.

Mr. Hatfield joined Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in 1974 and had served as Store Manager, Merchandising Manager, Divisional Merchandising Manager, Vice President of Advertising & Sales Promotion, Senior Vice President of Supercenter Merchandising and Executive Vice President of Sam’s Club Merchandising. In 1994, He was promoted to President & CEO of Wal-Mart Asia and took responsibility of preparing Wal-Mart’s business in China.

During his 10-year service in China, Joe Hatfield has contributed a lot to the retail industry and exportation of Chinese merchandise.

Brand New Retailing Operation Concepts

On August 12, 1996, Wal-Mart opened its first Wal-Mart Supercenter and Sam’s Club in Shenzhen, which were also its first two stores in Asia. Wal-Mart introduced its advanced information management system, business equipment and new retailing operation concepts to China. It has accelerated the innovation and development of China’s retail industry and also provided local retail corporations with its successful experience.

People Localization

During the past eight years, Joe has been persistent on “people localization” policy and gives full support to training programs for Chinese associates. The greatest achievement Wal-Mart China has accomplished, as Joe deems it, is having grown more than 20,000 Chinese associates.

Merchandising Localization

When Joe was a buyer before moving to China, He had a deep affection on Chinese products, especially special local products. In eight-year period, Wal-Mart sticks to sourcing Chinese product and building partnership with suppliers. Wal-Mart helps suppliers to keep updated with the market demand, reduce cost, enhance quality and improve packing, which sharpens suppliers’ competitiveness and boosts their development.

Commitment to Community Service

Joe Hatfield is a real model of Wal-Mart’s culture in serving the community and making contribution to the society. So far, Wal-Mart China has donated more than 10.30 million yuan in various forms to disaster areas, Project Hope projects and social welfare organizations. He himself is also generous and enthusiastic to public charity activities. For many years, Joe Hatfield has personally financed parties for children and elders in Shenzhen Welfare Centers to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

Thirty years ago Joe Hatfield joined Wal-Mart. He has been working in China for ten years. The "Friendship Award" not only praises Mr. Joe Hatfield as an individual, but also recognizes the success Wal-Mart has made in China. Under Joe Hatfield’s leadership, Wal-Mart China will keep growing day-by-day. With the efforts of Joe Hatfield and all Wal-Mart associates, Wal-Mart will keep developing and will also continually contribute to the retail industry in China.

The Chinese Government and all Chinese People will deem Joe Hatfield as their true friend forever.