Chain stores have seen a growth rate of 20 percent in their sales volume in the past two years, said Zhang Zhigang, vice minister of commerce, Tuesday.

The growth rate is much higher than that of the total sales volume of China's consumer goods, Zhang said.

Emerging in China in the early 1990s, chain stores have made rapid progress in China.

"Chain stores, representing advanced productive forces, play a significant role in expanding markets, providing job opportunities and safeguarding the sound development of the national economy," he said at a conference on chain stores' development.

Based on successful experiences with retail and food service chains, China will expand the scope of chain stores, he said.

Source: Xinhua