Chinese sports apparel-maker Li-Ning will invest US$10 million in the U.S. market and cooperate with Acquity Group LLC to expand its presence in the country, said Zhang Zhiyong, executive president of the company.

The investment will be used to open up the e-commerce market in the U.S. Acquity Group, a Chicago-based brand consulting firm, is designing advertisements for Li-Ning, which will be put on TV, in print media and on websites in May.

Li-Ning also plans to launch a new product line for the e-commerce market.

In 2008, Li-Ning set up a R&D center in Portland, Ore., in the U.S. A year later, the company opened its first U.S. store there.

China's business press carried the story above on Thursday. China.org.cn has not checked the stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.