MCDONALD'S said China has become its third largest market by store numbers in the world and it plans a 50 percent increase in investment this year to accelerate its growth.

The fast food giant opened a record 200 new restaurants in China last year and boosted its total store numbers to 1,400 in China, according to its statement yesterday. China was the third largest market after the United States and Japan.

McDonald's said it will add another 225 to 250 new restaurants in China this year while continuing to upgrade existing stores and expand services. It didn't provide specific details of the investment. But McDonald's earlier said that it aims to have 2,000 stores in China by 2013.

"China is the fastest growing market in new store openings within McDonald's global portfolio," said Kenneth Chan, CEO of McDonald's China.