New York, Mar 31 (EFE).– McDonald’s Corp. plans to open approximately 1,300 fast food restaurants in China over the next five years, CEO Steve Easterbrook said.

The top exec at the U.S. multinational said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the firm wants to make China its second largest market worldwide, behind only the United States.

Easterbrook said that the aim is to open some 250 restaurants this year, and to do that the firm will seek an investing partner to participate in broadening its franchise business in China, where McDonald’s currently operates some 2,200 stores.

The firm’s expansion plans in China come along with those of other multinationals such as Starbucks, which plans to open some 500 coffee shops per year over the next five years in the Asian giant, or Adidas, which wants to open some 3,000 stores there.

Easterbrook also announced that given the rising interest among Chinese consumers in healthier food options, the company will include more items on its menus in China such as apple slices and whole wheat cupcakes. EFE