TOKYO, March 19 -- China's Haier Group, a white goods giant, on Thursday started operating its largest overseas research and development center in Saitama Prefecture in Japan.

The R&D center will focus on fundamental research, new product planning and key technology design over white goods led by refrigerator, according to the center's chief Shi Zhenyu.

Shi said the center will continue to attract Japanese and talents from other countries on the field, in a bid to develop more popular white goods to meet consumer demand, adding the center will also put an eye on developing smart and network home appliances.

Kiyoshi Ueda, governor of the Saitama Prefecture, welcomed the opening of Haier's largest R&D center and said the center will contribute to local economy and development through providing more jobs.

Haier invested some 7 billion yen (about 58.11 million U.S. dollars) in the center, with 200 researchers working in the center.

Haier was founded in 1984. In January 2012, Haier purchased Sanyo Electric Co.'s appliance business from Panasonic Corp.