SHENZHEN, May 20 -- The world's largest retailer, Walmart Stores, announced on Tuesday that it will build about 30 new stores and more distribution centers in China this year.

The U.S. retailer said it will continue to develop businesses in the country's big cities. And more Supercenters will be built in third- and fourth-tier cities to serve emerging consumers amid China's urbanization drive.

Walmart also plans to open two new branches of its Sam's Club chain of membership-only retail warehouses, in Wuhan of central China's Hubei Province and Changzhou City in east China's Jiangsu Province, this year.

Sean Clarke, the incoming president and CEO of Walmart China, said Sam's Club has great potential, being particularly attractive to the growing number of middle and high-income shoppers.

The retailer also decided to invest 580 million yuan (about 94 million U.S. dollars) to upgrade about 55 old outlets, aiming to improve operating performance and customer experiences.

Clarke said Walmart has been enhancing operational efficiency to lower costs while ensuring product quality and safety.

Last October, Walmart announced it would speed up development in China in the next three years by opening 110 stores and distribution centers and creating 19,000 new jobs.

By the end of April, it had over 400 outlets in the country.