Sharp aims to sell handsets in China - Nikkei

TOKYO, March 14 (Reuters) - Sharp Corp (6753.T: Quote, Profile, Research) plans to enter China's cellular phone market as it seeks more growth overseas, the Nikkei business daily quoted its president as saying in an interview on Friday.

The company may start sales from June, ahead of the Beijing Olympics, it said.

"With our brand image for Aquos LCD televisions improving in China, we see synergy for our mobile phone handsets," Sharp President Mikio Katayama was quoted as saying.

Sharp will be the only Japanese company selling handsets in China after Kyocera Corp (6971.T: Quote, Profile, Research) withdrew from the market this month, the Nikkei said.

Finland's Nokia Corp (NOK1V.HE: Quote, Profile, Research) and U.S. firm Motorola Inc (MOT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) already have a strong presence in China, it said.

Katayama also said Sharp aims for a global market share of 30 percent in liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs in 2010 or 2011, when a new plant is at full production capacity, the paper said. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi; Editing by Hugh Lawson)