Mall operator Dalian Wanda Commercial Properties is partnering with Suning to open electronics stores at Wanda Plazas throughout the Mainland.

The partnership will see 40 stores open by the end of this year with more planned for next year. Suning, now 20 per cent owned by Alibaba Group, currently has a network of 1600 stores throughout China.

Dalian Wanda has 100 Wanda Plaza shopping centres in China currently and plans to add 35 by the end of this year.

The company is changing nature from its original model as a department store operator into a services-based company. It recently announced the closure of its Superstar karaoke chain as well as some of its less profitable department stores.

The company owns the AMC cinema chain in the US, Hoyts in Australia and China’s largest network of movie theatres.