Burger King plans to have 1000 restaurants in China before 2015, and possibly as early as 2010.

This news comes via the National Business Daily which cited Steve DeSutter, president of Burger King's Asia-Pacific business. DeSutter said most of the stores Burger King plans to open in China will be franchises.

Privately-held Burger King, founded in 1954, has more than 11,000 restaurants worldwide, of which about 90% are franchises.

Burger King opened its first mainland restaurant in Shanghai at the end of June, and plans to open another 10-12 wholly-owned outlets in the same city this year.