Coca-Cola to invest $4b in China over three years

Company to use funds for boosting marketing initiatives and improving customer experiences

Global beverages giant the Coca-Cola Co plans to invest $4 billion over the next three years in China.

Speaking at a groundbreaking ceremony for the company's 45th local production site in Xianghe, Langfang city of Hebei province, on Friday, Muhtar Kent, its chairman and chief executive officer, said since 1979 the firm had invested $9 billion in China, which he called its "third-largest market by volume and critically important to the future growth" of the company.