China's leading smartphone manufacturer recently unveiled a new flagship handset in the United Kingdom in line with its aggressive efforts to penetrate the world's premium-end cellphone market.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd is also gearing up to challenge Apple's dominance in the United States, as it embarks on an ambitious plan to expand its business outside China, reported the China Daily.

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On Wednesday, the Guangdong-based electronics company rolled out its latest handset called the P9, a pamphlet with a dual-lens camera, in London.

With the release of the high-end device, the China smartphone manufacturer hopes to further expand its presence overseas, and secure a stronger foothold on the highly-competitive international smartphone market.   

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Richard Yu, head of Huawei's consumer electronics unit, said that the company plans to launch a flagship device in the US at the later part of this year.

"We want to become the No 1 as a premium brand," Yu told the American newspaper on Wednesday.

Although Huawei entered the China market as a budget smartphone manufacturer more than a decade ago, it is now focused on developing devices which sell above 3,000 yuan ($460), which is a widely accepted threshold for high-end market.

Currently, the company's most expensive device is the Mate S, which sells at 4,899 yuan, almost the same price of an iPhone 6S.

Nicole Peng, research director at Shanghai-based consultancy Canalys described Huawei's expansion plans as "aggressive," noting that the company's thrust for this year is strengthen its presence in overseas markets, while at the time, engaging its local competitor Xiaomi Corp in its own turf.

The China smartphone manufacturer, which sells smartphones, wearables and accessories, generated gross revenues of 129 billion yuan in 2015, an impressive 73 percent year-on-year increase.  

Tagschina smartphone, china, China Smartphone Manufacturers, Huawei