Guangzhou's Tianhe district will strive to become a world-class city central axis, said Tan Minghe, acting director of Tianhe district, on June 11 during the eighth session of the Ninth Tianhe District People's Congress.

The district will devote efforts to increase the number of national high-tech companies to 800, while increasing the number of small- and medium-sized technological enterprises listed on the national list to 2,000.

Guidance will be offered for large- and medium-sized backbone enterprises to set up technological innovation centers and key laboratories. The proportion of expenditures on scientific research and development (R&D) to the regional gross domestic product will be further elevated.

Local high-quality companies are encouraged to start trading on the science and technology innovation board and the growth enterprise market.

Renovations will be made to Guangzhou East Railway Station and to buildings near Tianhe Sports Center.

The district will boost the cluster development of emerging industries, such as 5G, artificial intelligence, smart networks, and new energy vehicles, to establish a modern industrial pattern in the area.

Goals have been set that the district will sign contracts for 60 projects and settle 75 projects in 2020, with an overall investment of more than 30 billion yuan ($4.24 billion).

Tianhe will also accelerate the construction of 95 municipal major projects and 136 district-level major projects, making sure that the total investment of these projects can reach 23 billion yuan.