Quiksilver, Inc. has taken steps to broaden its global brand reach even further with the announcement last week of a joint venture with a Chinese company to manage retail stores and distribute ZQK brands in the Peoples Republic of China.

Glorious Sun Enterprises, Ltd. has been a leading apparel manufacturer for U.S. brands for some time and has recently become one of the largest branded retailers in the PRC.

Quiksilver noted that the joint venture’s initial efforts would be focused on opening key retail locations in major retail markets such as Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong in order to secure a foothold in the market in advance of a wider distribution strategy.

Initial plans call for the opening of 5-10 stores in the Shanghai market by late 2003 or early 2004.

Nicolas Giannoli, formerly COO of Quiksilver Europe, has relocated to Shanghai where he will act as Quiksilver’s Managing Director of China.