Bailian launches own e-commerce platform

More than 10 years after China's e-commerce market rose and gained momentum, the country's largest retailer group by revenue, Bailian, launched its own e-commerce platform - BL.com - in an announcement by the Shanghai-headquartered company on Thursday.

But instead of being a follower in the market that has already been dominated by the likes of Alibaba and JD.com, the State-owned conglomerate is aiming to "lead the industry with its unique advantages", according to Ye Yongming, chairman of Bailian Group.

"We are taking full advantage of what we have in the offline world - 4,800 brick and mortar stores, 10,000 retailing staff and an annual visitorship of more than one billion (to its brick and mortar stores) - and transform them into transactions online," said Ye.