French luxury giant LVMH expressed full confidence in the Chinese market, calling it “the beating heart of global luxury” despite sluggish consumption. Secretary General Marc-Antoine Jamet, speaking before the China International Import Expo in Shanghai, said “the future of luxury is being shaped here, in China.” LVMH operates 46 brands, over 1,800 stores and employs about 27,000 in China. Louis Vuitton’s ship-shaped flagship “The Louis,” which opened in Shanghai in June, has quickly become one of the brand’s bestselling locations for suitcases.