The emergence of China as an economic superpower

Carrefour and Wal-Mart are matching each other store for store in growth in China.

Presently Carrefour of Paris, the world's number two retailer has 79 stores in 32 Chinese cities compared to Wal-Mart's 50 locations in 30 cities.

Carrefour outsold Wal-Mart $2.2 billion to $1.2 billion in 2005.

Looks like Carrefour gets more money per store than Wal-Mart does.

Wal-Mart beat Carrefour to China by a few months, opening their first store in 1994. Wal-Mart's first super store went up in Shenzhen, an industrial city across the river from Hong Kong.

Wal-Mart headed for Shanghai and Beijing and pressed for favorable terms...but were told they could set up shop in Shenyang, farther north where it gets very very cold.

Carrefour , bypassed Beijing and went to local governments and offered jobs, to pay taxes, and pay rent. Who do you think got the better welcome?

Carrefour opened up a store in Shanghai in the late 90's. Wal-Mart opened their first in Shanghai last year.

Wal-Mart plans to open 18 stores in China, this year, 50% more than Carrefour in hopes of catching up.

Wal-Mart is still years away from transplanting its logistical capabilities to China.

Meanwhile, Carrefour says, "if it can get the job done, it can pull up to our loading docks."

Carrefour vs. Wal-Mart. Who are you betting on?