An order by President Hu Jintao prompted China's state-sanctioned labor group to launch a campaign that led to the creation of Wal-Mart's first Chinese union, according to a newspaper report. Such personal involvement by Hu in dealing with foreign companies is rare, and could help to explain the All-China Federation of Trade Unions' surprise success in forming a Wal-Mart union in July after the world's largest retailer resisted organizing efforts for two years.
See "Report: Hu Order Led to Wal - Mart Unions", Associated Press, The New York Times, August 15, 2006