Apple shareholder attendance appeared to be up at this morning's annual meeting.

Apple far outperformed most other companies during 2009, whether in our out of the technology sector. During a year of global recession, when the highest performing businesses were flat, Apple managed to increase revenue and profits, and to double the stock value of  the company. Even better, it will be Steve Jobs that delivers the good news from last year and the almost certainly upbeat projections for the upcoming year.

Apple held its annual shareholders meeting today at the company’s campus in Cupertino, CA. Apart from re-electing the company’s board of directors, the meeting was largely uneventful, as a number of shareholders debated each other on environmental issues before voting down a sustainability proposal. According to live updates from the meeting provided to Fortune, Apple Senior Vice President of Retail Ron Johnson revealed that the company plans to open 25 stores in China, a number that would be very high relative to Apple’s previously-announced goal of opening 25-50 stores in 2010. Finally, when asked about Google CEO Eric Schmidt’s departure from the company’s board last year, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said, “Eric Schmidt conducted himself appropriately and recused himself on matters that might involve conflict.” When asked what he fears, and what keeps him awake at night, Jobs replied “shareholders meetings.”

Apple plans to add 25 stores in China over the next two years according to Fortune, who’ve been following the Apple shareholder meeting today.  Tim Cook said this week that Apple had plans to open 50 stores this year and it appears that half of those will be in China.

Apple seems to be taking China very seriously lately, especially with handset rival Google in limbo there after the hacking fiasco. Although Apple had a slow start with the iPhone in China, they’ve been ramping up efforts there considerably.

But, as often happens, word is leaking out despite the blackout thanks to iPhones in the hands of shareholders who shall go unnamed. We’ll post their dispatches (all times EST) as they come in.