(Yicai Global) March 30 -- Hisense will establish research and development centers in the United States and Japan this year to further expand in overseas markets, the vice president of the Chinese household appliance maker’s international marketing business has revealed.

Hisense will build R&D centers in high-end markets including the US and Japan to meet their differentiated needs, according to the overseas market expansion plan Liu Bin unveiled yesterday.

The Qingdao-based company will continue to invest more to coordinate development of production, sales, and R&D, Liu added, noting that it plans to open almost 100 high-end flagship stores globally.

According to the plan, the firm will continue to promote its main products -- laser televisions -- by introducing more sizes to double sales volume. It also aims to promote its flagship ultra light-emitting diode TVs, including 8K ultra high-definition screens, to grow sales of high-end products abroad by more than 40 percent this year.

Hisense’s overseas sales of laser TVs almost quadrupled last year, according to figures Liu shared.

The company has spared no efforts to expand outside of China in recent years. On March 12, Zhou Houjian retired as chairman and was succeeded by Lin Lan, who had been responsible for Hisense’s international business. The company also extended its partnership with Federation Internationale de Football Association, becoming an official sponsor of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 last October, after sponsoring the previous event in Russia in 2018.

Hisense, which mostly produces TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, and kitchen appliances, reported a 24 percent increase in operating revenue to CNY175.5 billion (USD27.6 billion) for last year, with overseas income up 33 percent to CNY73.1 billion (USD11.5 billion).

Editors: Dou Shicong, Futura Costaglione