American multinational retailer Walmart has taken active initiatives to help businesses affected by the coronavirus outbreak in China and made contributions to meet people's daily needs, according to Wern-Yuen Tan, President and CEO of Walmart China.

The highly transmittable disease has disrupted the retail industry in China as people are encouraged to stay home to avoid further spread, but supermarket remains an indispensable place for people to buy daily necessities, especially food. The government has urged supermarkets and grocery stores to resume business as soon as possible to ensure daily supplies. Some 99 percent of China's major chain supermarkets have resumed operation after an extended holiday break disrupted by the disease.

Walmart has quickly adjusted its product structure to increase the variety of fresh food and ready-to-eat food and take full advantage of direct imports channels.

Tan said that the company has also launched a staff sharing recruitment program to help businesses that had to suspend operations, and have recruited more than 5,000 part-time associates to date.

We've halved the rents and management fees for all our tenants at Walmart stores and Sam's club in China during and post the Chinese New Year season," Tan explained.

Tan mentioned that Walmart has donated one million yuan for purchasing protective equipment and medical supplies, and for providing epidemic prevention and disinfection services to help Wuhan fight against the epidemic.

Meanwhile, Walmart has also safeguarded the health and safety of our associates and customers through high sanitization standards, and has ensured the Walmart stores and Sam's club are well stocked and at stable prices, he said.

"In these challenging times, we want residents in China to know that you will be able to count on Walmart. We're doing our best to ensure that the Walmart stores and Sam's clubs in your community are well stocked with all your daily necessities at stable and trusted prices," he stressed.