Embattled Carrefour donates in wake of China quake

BEIJING (Reuters) - French retailer Carrefour, just weeks ago the target of nationalist anger in China, has joined in the aid effort following Monday's devastating earthquake with donations of cash and goods.

Demonstrators upset over anti-China protests in Paris and elsewhere along the international leg of the Olympic torch relay focused much of their attention on Carrefour, accusing the retail giant of supporting pro-Tibetan independence groups and picketing in front of many of its China outlets during late April.

Chen Bo, national communications manager for Carrefour China, said on Friday that the firm had so far donated 3 million yuan ($376,000) in cash and 220,000 yuan in goods to the relief effort after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake hit Sichuan province, killing possibly more than 50,000 people.

"We have a saying in Chinese, 'When disaster hits one place, help needs to come from all other directions,'" Chen said. "It's very simple: everyone is donating money and goods right now. Everyone has the same wish."

Chen played down the impact of the recent protests on the firm's decision to donate, noting that it had also contributed to relief efforts after previous disasters, including the crippling snow storms that hit southern and central China in January.

The firm, which made its first donation of 2 million yuan on the day the quake hit, joins a long list of governments and corporations that have contributed to the relief effort.

($1=7.9876 yuan)

(Reporting by Jason Subler; Editing by Nick Macfie and Alex Richardson)