The world's second biggest retailing giant Carrefour plans to build its China purchasing center in Guangzhou, capital of the southern province of Guangdong.

Daniel Bernard, president of Carrefour Group, said that Guangzhou has become a city of strategic importance to the future development of the group.

Carrefour has so far opened five supermarkets and a purchasing center in Guangdong.

The new center will cover 65.5 percent of Carrefour's purchasing value in China.

Bernard says that Carrefour will open three supermarkets in Guangzhou this year, and establish six by 2005.