During the first three quarters of 2013, Yili generated operating revenue of 36.5 billion yuan ($5.9 billion) and net profit of 2.52 billion yuan, up 82.7 percent.[Photo/China Daily]

WAGENINGEN, The Netherlands - Top Chinese dairy company Yili Group inaugurated its research and development center in Wageningen University on Tuesday, becoming the first such Chinese R&D center in Europe.

Pan Gang, president of Yili, said Europe would become the most important part of the company's R&D systems.

"We shall not only cooperate with the top research institutions, but also continue to conduct the world-level research. We will also invite global experts into our R&D team," he said.

The center will focus on milk cow cultivation, dairy product research and food safety.

Wageningen University and its R&D center are leading scientific research institutions. With over 15,000 researchers, the surrounding area of the university is known as the European "food valley" with global food and nutrition research clusters.

The chairman of Wageningen University Aalt Dijkhuizen said as the largest dairy product consuming market in the world, China supplies the milk for a sixth of the world's population, which is an extraordinary achievement.

"Wageningen University looks forward to cooperating with Yili in promoting the progress of the global dairy industry," Dijkhuizen said.

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