Apple will open a second research and development center in Shenzhen, China's Silicon Valley, in 2017 despite Beijing's emphasis on domestically developed technologies and a dramatic weakening of Apple's market shares in China.

Apple a few weeks ago opened its first R&D center, this in the Wangjing sub-district, a technological area in northeast Beijing. Built with a total investment of $45 million, the center will have about 500 employees.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook announced the plan on Oct. 11 during his visit to Shenzhen. Cook met with Shenzhen Communist Party secretary Ma Xingrui and other government officials to formally announce the new center.

Cook also attend an entrepreneurship forum in Shenzhen where he talked to Premier Li Keqiang. The Shenzhen city government earlier this month first revealed Apple's plan for its second R&D center in China.

Apple said its planned Shenzhen center, along with the Beijing center, "is also aimed at strengthening relationships with local partners and universities as we work to support talent development across the country.

"We are excited to be opening a new Research and Development center here next year so our engineering team can work even more closely and collaboratively with our manufacturing partner."

"Shenzhen is an incredibly vibrant city where we are proud to support over 200,000 jobs between advanced manufacturing and the growing App economy."

Apple's boost to R&D comes as its momentum in China begins to slow. Revenues for Hong Kong, Taiwan, and mainland China fell 33 percent annually last quarter, and Greater China is no longer Apple's second-biggest market.

Apple is also being watched more closely by the Chinese government. Last April, Beijing forced Apple to shut down its iBooks and iTunes movie stores. The Communist Party of China wants to end China's reliance on foreign technology hence the pressure being applies on Apple.

Tagsapple, Shenzhen, research & development center, Tim Cook