Source: China Daily

12-05-2008 18:56

By Liu Jie (China Daily)

During the Olympic month, when eating in McDonald's, you could hear the song, "China wins, we win" broadcast repeatedly.

Jim Skinner, vice-chairman and CEO of the world's largest fast-food company, says he appreciates the slogan.

Actually, he has reason to mean what he says, since setting up the first McDonald's in China in Shenzhen in 1990, the Western restaurant chain has been expanding steadily and successfully.

So far, other than the home market - the United States - China is the No 1 growth market for McDonald's, with 960 restaurants and over 60,000 employees.

For 2008, China represents one third of all capital expenditures in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region, where the fast-food giant is in 37 markets, according to Skinner.

"We've been steadily growing with China for the past 18 years and are very excited for what the future holds," he tells China Business Weekly.