The China (Huangyan) Tangerine Provenance Research Center was inaugurated in Huangyan district, Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province on Nov 15.

The center is designed to be a national first-class facility for the collection, protection, and utilization of tangerine provenance  as well as the breeding of new varieties of tangerine and similar species.

The center, which has reached intended cooperation agreements with four universities and institutions, including Huazhong Agricultural University, the Citrus Research Institute of Southwest University, the Zhejiang Provincial Citrus Research Institute, and Zhejiang University, plans to introduce seven teams with more than 100 experts and scholars.

The research center has announced it will allocate a fund of 10 million yuan ($1.43 million) annually for research cooperation conducted on a 500-mu (33 hectares) site in Huangyan district.