WELLINGTON, May 18 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand opened an innovation institute in China's eastern city of Hangzhou, a key step towards developing stronger research links with Chinese researchers, Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith said on the spot on Thursday, according to a New Zealand government release.

The University of Auckland Innovation Institute in Hangzhou of east China's Zhejiang Province presents a great opportunity to help New Zealand research organizations commercialize their intellectual property into the Chinese market, Goldsmith said.

"China is a key science and innovation partner for New Zealand," he said, adding that the Institute will develop stronger relationships in China with the government, universities, research institutes, local companies, and multi-national corporations that have a presence in China.

"It will provide access to a wide range of opportunities in China to support research at the University of Auckland, as well as invaluable knowledge of how to access the Chinese market," Goldsmith said.

Set up in China's Hangzhou Hi-Tech Industrial Zone, the institute will share the same campus as research and development centers for Motorola, Nokia, and Siemens, according to the New Zealand government release.

The Institute's facilities and closed office areas can be used by Kiwi businesses for client meetings, seminars, functions or as a workspace, it said.