eBay embarked on a strategic partnership with McDonald's yesterday, which will open up new operational channels for the two companies, The Beijing News reports. The partnership, which is among the first cross-sector e-business deals in China, will harness the advantages of online trading with fast-food counter convience; Gary Rosen, vice president of McDonald's China, said that his company hoped to use the Internet to establish a closer relationship with its customers, and eBay provided an ideal platform for that goal. eBay CEO Wu Shixiong said that the massive influence of food retail sales channels could assist China's immature online commerce marketplace in its development. The two companies will also run sales promotions and auction events simultaneously on eBay's website and in McDonald's more than 750 locations across the country.Link:http://economy.thebeijingnews.com/0392/2006/0316/014@167470.htm