Japanese convenience store chain Lawson will increase its capital spending to $50m (£32m) in China during 2011, with the aim of opening about 130 convenience stores.

Cities earmarked for additional stores include Shanghai, Chongqing, Shenyang, Dalian, Chengdu and Beijing. Lawson president Takeshi Niinami said: “It’s time to go to China. We have to take the ‘fast-moving’ advantage.”

By 2014 Lawson could be spending up to $200m (£128m) a year on expansion in China.