Coffee giant Starbucks is to replicate its US community strategy in China.

The plan includes opening a new store not far from another Starbucks store and setting up ‘community shops’.

The shops are aimed at bringing the company’s values to the the communities and promoting local residents’ engagement.

Starbucks says it is committed to expanding its network in China by increasing its outlet count there from more than 1200 currently to more than 1500 by 2015.

The China market has been key to Starbucks international expansion efforts since the opening of its first store in Beijing in 1999, it says.