SINGAPORE, March 28 (Reuters) - Singapore's biggest bank DBS Group DBSM.SI regards Shenzhen Rural Commercial Bank as a "strategic" asset, and would remain a major shareholder if the Chinese lender decides to list as a public company, outgoing CEO Piyush Gupta said on Friday.

Speaking to shareholders at an annual general meeting, Gupta said the investment in SRCB provides DBS access to China's Greater Bay region.

"We are already the single largest shareholder of the bank... if we can build up our position, we will try and do that," he added.

DBS, Southeast Asia's biggest bank by assets, acquired an additional stake in the Chinese bank for 1.6 billion yuan ($220.30 million), it said in January, bringing its total ownership to 19.40%.

Gupta has previously indicated that he expects SRBC to list on the stock exchange in future.

Tan Su Shan assumed the role of DBS CEO from Gupta on Friday, becoming the bank's first female chief executive, and the first appointed from within the company.

Tan, who has been with the bank for 15 years, will lead DBS at a time when the bank posted record annual revenue and profit, although more pressing concern will be to navigate global economic and market volatility.

While heightened uncertainty in the markets has been "challenging...we are staying focused on delivering medium- and long-term results," Tan said during Friday's AGM.

($1 = 7.2628 Chinese yuan renminbi)