Google Inc. reportedly plans to acquire one or two Chinese companies and invest in up to five more over the next year as part of efforts to gain ground on rival Baidu.com Inc. in China.

“Over the next year, Google will acquire one or two companies in China, and invest in four to five companies,” said Kai-Fu Lee, president of Google China, quoted in a report (in Chinese) carried on several Web sites. The report did not say what companies or technologies Google is interested in.

A Google China spokeswoman did not immediately respond to phone and e-mail messages seeking confirmation of Lee’s reported comments.

Unlike the U.S. where Google dominates the Internet search market, the company trails behind market leader Baidu.com in China. But Google executives insist they will eventually overtake their Chinese rival, saying the company’s offerings in China are competitive.

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