ZTE Corp, the world's No.4 handset maker, said it sees China and the United States as key drivers for its fast-growing smartphone market as it shifts away from low-end feature phones in a bid to boost profit margins.

ZTE, which has evolved from a seller of back-end telecommunications equipment into a well-known consumer devices name in emerging markets since it was founded in 1985, aims to rely on top models such as the Blade and Skate to build up its market share, Reuters reported.

"The United States and China will be key engines driving our smartphone sales," Lv Qianhao, head of handset strategy said on Tuesday.

The Shenzhen-based company, which launched smartphones powered by Microsoft Corp's Windows operating system in the United States in the second half of last year, plans to expand its rollout to include China no later than the third quarter of this year.

"If we say ZTE started out as a contractor, like those building mass housing that are value for money, then we want to be a developer of luxury high-end estates," said Lv, who also owns an Apple Inc iPhone as well as ZTE's Android and Windows smartphones.

Lv said ZTE expected its global smartphone shipments to at least double this year amid effort to boost profit margins in the competitive sector.

ZTE Corporation (formerly Zhongxing Telecommunication Equipment Corporation) is a Chinese multinational telecommunications equipment and systems company headquartered in Shenzhen, China. ZTE's core products are wireless, exchange, access, optical transmission and data telecommunications gear; mobile phones and telecommunications software.