The leading Chinese consumer electronics retailer Suning is set to open an additional 500 stores in China during 2010, 200 of which will be located in urban areas, while 300 will be in rural areas, the China Daily reported on January 29. Stimulated by the Chinese government's household appliance renewal program in August 2009, Suning began focusing on rural areas in late-2009. In 2009, Suning set up 200 new stores across China and brought the total to over 1,000 stores by year-end 2009, with the majority set up in urban areas, according to the same source. In addition, Suning stated that the company aims to have 4,000 stores targeting low-income regions in China in the future.