Nokia has marked its first step into the Android smartphone market with the release of Nokia 6 in China.

After securing the exclusive Nokia brand licensing rights in mobile phones in late 2016, HMD Global Oy (HMD) is behind the launch.

The decision by HMD to launch its first Android smartphone into China is an attempt to meet the real world needs of consumers in different markets around the world.

With over 552 million smartphone users in China in 2016, the company says it is a strategically important market where premium design and quality is highly valued by consumers.

Arto Nummela, CEO of HMD Global says that from the outset the company has stated that they intend to move with speed to establish a position as a player in the smartphone market.

“The Nokia 6 is a result of listening to our consumers who desire a beautifully crafted handset with exceptional durability, entertainment and display features,” he explains.

“Our ambition is to deliver a premium product, which meets consumer needs at every price point, in every market. We start today, with our premium, high quality Nokia 6; built to deliver a fantastic core user experience for Chinese consumers.

We look forward to unveiling further products in the first half of this year.

Nestor Xu, vice president for Greater China at HMD Global, adds that as China is the largest and most competitive smartphone market in the world, this move is no coincidence.

“JD.com is known for its upwardly mobile customer base and it has for many years believed in the Nokia brand and sold millions of our products to Chinese customers,” says Xu.

“Launching our first smartphone device, in such a strategically important market, with JD.com a trusted online retailer marks a signal of intent.