Facebook Setting Up ‘Innovation Hub’ in China in Bid to Boost Presence

The move is aimed at expanding the tech giant’s presence in a country where its social network is blocked

SHENZHEN, China—Facebook Inc. said Tuesday it would set up an innovation hub in China to groom and support the nation’s developers and startups, the latest in a series of steps aimed at expanding its presence in the world’s largest consumer market.

Facebook’s social network has been blocked in China since 2009, leading the Menlo Park, Calif., company to pursue other initiatives to gain a foothold. In January, Facebook signed an agreement with Chinese hardware company Xiaomi Corp. to produce a virtual reality headset only for...