McDonald's Corp will recruit 50,000 employees this year in China as it quickens its pace of expansion in the fastest-growing market for the world's biggest restaurant chain.

Oak Brook, Illinois-based McDonald's now operates 1,300 restaurants and employs 70,000 employees in China since it first entered the market 21 years ago. It plans to raise the store number to 2,000 in China by 2013, and the chain will open 175 to 200 new outlets this year.

Total sales for fast-food chains in China rose 12 percent last year to 60 billion yuan, according to Bloomberg News, citing London-based researcher Euromonitor International. Yum! Brands' restaurants accounted for 40 percent while McDonald's had 16 percent, the researcher said.

Yum!, which runs 3,200 KFC, 500 Pizza Hut and 20 East Dawning Chinese food outlets in China, earlier said it plans to open 500 new stores annually over the next three years.

Analysts say that talent is crucial for McDonald's development in China.