Carrefour, the France-based supermarket chain, reopened its flagship store in Urumqi on Thursday after a 17-day closure forced by the July 5 violence.

The retailer's store in the Urumqi International Grand Bazaar complex is regarded as the flagship of the three outlets in the city, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

"We are well prepared for the reopening," said Jerome Chevrier, general manager of Carrefour's north and west regions, in Urumqi Thursday.

Plans to open two more stores in Xinjiang were on track and the riot, which left 197 people dead, had not affected the firm's investment plans.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2009)