Shenzhen International Trust and Investment Corporation (hereinafter referred to as "SZITIC") is a financial institution formally established with the approval of the People's Bank of China and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. 1In August, 1995, Shenzhen Wal-Mart Zhujiang Department Store Co., Ltd. (renamed Wal-Mart SZITIC Department Store Co., Ltd. in 2003, hereinafter referred to as "Wal-Mart SZITIC Department Store") was established by SZITIC and Wal-Mart in the United States, and jointly operated commercial retail business.