Syria's Cham Group has announced plans to operate hotels in China. The group is planned to buy local Chinese hotels and expected to achieve substantial results next year.

Due to the Olympic Games to be held in Beijing in 2008, the group chose the capital of China first, said Ghassan Aidi, president of Cham Group.

He said China's more open economic policy, free trade environment and stable social order enabled Cham to make a final decision on investment in China. The hotels in Beijing will provide accommodation for Middle East business people.

Cham now has 25 hotels in Egypt, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Lebanon.