A casino at Macao in China has opened Asia's first permanent Michael Jackson exhibition. The gallery, in the casino-resort Ponte 16, houses 40 Michael Jackson items, including his famous rhinestone glove.

Chinese pop star Coco Lee and "Britain's Got Talent" finalist, Shaheed Jafargholi, performed a duet at the opening concert which also showcased local singers and dancers.

Coco Lee was a friend of the late superstar and spent time at his ranch Neverland in the United States.

Coco Lee said, "He is an incredible performer. I would have to say he is probably the best entertainer of all time and he's so kind. I hope that, we know Michael Jackson's music will live on forever, he will always be in our hearts."

The idea for the MJ Gallery came about after Ponte's owner, gambling tycoon Stanley Ho, bought the rhinestone glove at auction in New York for 350-thousand US dollars.

Hoffman Ma, Ponte's deputy CEO, said they would have paid double even though the glove sold for almost eight times the pre-sale estimate amid stiff bidding.

The white glove, called "the Holy Grail of Michael Jackson," was worn by the performer when he first staged the famous moonwalk dance at the 1983 Motown 25 television special.

Made of cream leather and studded with hand-sewn rhinestones, the left-handed glove is considered an iconic accessory by Jackson fans.

Ponte 16 also snared nine other items that were owned by Jackson, which are housed in the "MJ Gallery," including signed fedora hats, a pair of bejeweled tube socks, and Jackson's "zombie" shirt which he wore in the video of "Thriller".

Ma says they decided to exhibit the items, which are valued at around 1 million US dollars, so fans could share in the experience.

They are planning to add to the collection and have already organized a celebrity auction and exhibition at the casino later this year.