A Beijing resident examining Canon telephoto lenses at the 16th China International Photograph and Electrical Imaging Machinery and Technology Fair in Beijing in April. Provided to China Daily

Japanese firms view China as the big buyer of high-end cameras

China is the world's largest buyer of high-end cameras, with the expanding middle-class population likely to fuel demand, said an executive from Canon Inc, the Japanese camera maker.

"The increasing demand in high quality single-lens reflex cameras is increasing despite the slowing Chinese economy," said Howard Ozawa, managing director of Canon and president of Canon Asia Marketing Group.

"Because Chinese people are spending more money on traveling and sightseeing, we've been able to sell our full line of products in the country."

Canon hopes it can lift China sales to $10 billion by the end of 2017, boosted by strong demand for cameras and printing devices.

The Japanese company heavily relies on foreign markets. Four-fifths of its sales were generated outside Japan, said Reuters.

Weaker international demand for compact cameras plus global zeal for smartphones equipped with high-definition cameras is hurting Canon's sales.