The Coca-Cola Co opened its largest bottling plant in China on Thursday in northeastern Liaoning province, which will greatly improve the beverage giant's local distribution capabilities.

The Yingkou operation is Coca-Cola's 42nd bottling plant in China. It has an area of more than 170,000 square meters and involves an investment of $160 million.

The new bottling plant is expected to reach an annual production capacity of more than 5 billion servings of sparkling and still beverages, including Coca-Cola, Sprite, Minute Maid and Ice Dew, the company said.