Microsoft Corp's research and development headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region in Beijing starts operation on May 25, 2011. [Photo / CFP]

Microsoft Corp's research and development headquarters for the Asia-Pacific region began operations on Wednesday, people.com.cn reported.

The building is located at Zhongguancun in Beijing, dubbed China's Silicon Valley, and is the company's biggest R&D center outside the United States.

The software giant invested 2.8 billion yuan ($431.5 million) for the R&D headquarters. Microsoft Chief Executive Steve Ballmer attended the unveiling ceremony on Wednesday.

The building founded in 2008 covers 150,000 square meters housing more than 3,000 Microsoft employees.