German express delivery and logistics giant DHL plans to invest US$110 million in China over the next few years.

The investment will focus on infrastructure expansion, which includes more vehicles and service centers, and the training of staff in China, said Klaus Zumwinkel, board chairman of Deutsche Post World Net, DHL's parent company, on Feb. 14.

China has become DHL's fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region. The sales revenue of DHL in the region was 6 billion euros in 2006, 25 percent of which came from Chinese market.

DHL has expanded its branch companies in China from 56 last year to 73, including a newly opened branch in Lhasa, capital of Tibet Autonomous region.

It has invested US$1 billion in China from 2001 to 2006, accounting for half of its investment in the Asia- Pacific region.

DHL began to tap the Chinese market in 1986, when it established its first joint venture, DHL-Sinotrans, with Sinotrans. So far, it has secured a 40-percent market share in China.