North Carolina and Chinese officials signed an agreement Tuesday to create a biosciences gateway in Research Triangle Park for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other businesses that want to expand in either country.

The partnership is tied to Chinese President Hu Jintao's three-day visit to the United States and signals China's interest in increasing its economic ties with North Carolina.

"Our purpose today is fairly simple: We want to learn how North Carolina can collaborate and build strong partnerships with you," Gov. Bev Perdue told a delegation of more than 100 Chinese politicians, investors and business leaders in Durham.

Perdue noted that she's planning a return visit to China in the fall and hopes to call on businesses interested in adding jobs in this state.

The agreement signed Tuesday morning calls for a 150,000 square-foot research facility that's expected to open in 2013 on the RTP campus of the Hamner Institutes for Health Sciences. The nonprofit Hamner will work with Chinese investment firm XY Group to identify opportunities for companies, universities and others.