China should account for 8-9% of global merger and acquisition activity this year, maintaining a similar share to 2009 and 2010, according to JPMorgan’s (JPM.NYSE) head of China M&A, Reuters reported. Consolidation in consumer retail, healthcare, real estate, and chemical and industrial sectors is likely to drive M&As within China this year, Brian Gu said. The country accounted for 2-4% of worldwide M&A activity from 2003 to 2007. However, “Amid an overall recovery in M&A activities globally, China has seen a sharp rise, taking advantage of the financial crisis and maintained a pretty large share in this rebounding market last year,” said Gu. China’s inbound and outbound M&A deals totaled US$236 billion in 2010, just over 8% of the global total of US$2.8 trillion. China is expected to remain a key player in global M&As, according to Gu.