McDonald's China is planning to open 1,000 more outlets in the mainland by 2020, as the company moves to attract more investors that would help realize its business expansion plans.

 "We truly believe we can create strong and sustainable growth in the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and South Korea, with a mindful introduction of strategic partners who can offer local expertise and competency, blended with the unrivaled global strength of the group, to allow accelerated, long-term growth," McDonald's President and CEO Steve Easterbrook told China Daily during an interview in Beijing.

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Morgan Stanley, a multinational financial services company, has been tapped to identify potential investors who may hold "majority shares" in the soon to be established McDonald's China outlets.

Currently, McDonald's mainland subsidiary operates 2,200 restaurants in the country, in which 35 percent are franchise outlets.

The US-based food fast food giant is also eyeing strategic investors from Hong Kong and Korea.

Easterbrook pointed out that the mainland is the company's third-largest market after the United States and Japan.

However, the CEO expects China to jump to second place by 2020, as he remains bullish on the huge potential of the Chinese market, and at the same time, excited with the prospect of luring more investors.

Meanwhile, Phyllis Cheung, CEO of McDonald's China, expressed optimism that the company's strategy of bringing in more investors into its fold will augur well for the company.

"With the introduction of strategic partners, we will be able to tap into the country's rich local resources, allowing investment capital to unlock our growth potential," Cheung said.

"We will also be able to make faster local decisions by being China-centric to achieve our goal of being the second-largest market for McDonald's," she pointed out.

Cheung added that McDonald's China's move to establish more outlets is in line with the company's goal of increasing the ratio of franchised businesses globally from its current target of 80 to 93 percent by 2018 to 95 percent in the long-term.

Tagschina, MacDonald's, McDonald's China Outlets