As one of the first German companies to enter the Chinese market, retail giant Metro Group said it will continue to invest and expand in China this year.

The Group's self-service wholesale business, Metro Cash & Carry, entered the Chinese market in 1996. Today, Metro Group runs 64 wholesale markets in 46 cities across China, with more than 10,000 employees serving more than 3.8 million customers, including hotels, restaurants, canteens, small retailers as well as offices and institutions.

Unlike retail giants Carrefour and Wal-Mart, the German company is focusing on the Chinese business-to-business wholesale market.