* Says crisis to hurt but "not so much"
* Says H&M to open at least five stores in China this year
* Says no plans yet for stores in India
MOSCOW, March 12 (Reuters) - Swedish fashion giant Hennes & Mauritz is likely to feel some effects from the ongoing global financial crisis, but it is not being hurt as much as some competitors, the company's top executive said on Thursday.
"I won't say it (the crisis) will help us but we won't be hurt so much," Chief Executive Rolf Eriksen told Reuters in an interview in the Russian capital.
H&M will open its first Russian store in Moscow on Friday.
Eriksen, who steps down as CEO at the end of June, said H&M had in past downturns managed to take market share.
"When it comes to a slowdown in the economy, we have done quite well. We are hurt but not so hurt against our competitors," he said.
Eriksen added that H&M would open at least three stores in Russia and five in China this year.
He said that unlike rival Inditex, H&M does not have plans currently to open stores in India, but the company could have a presence there in the future. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova and Maria Plis; additional reporting by Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)