To further attract global elites from various industries, the Guangzhou Development District (GDD) plans on building 5,000 to 8,000 suites for them, as well as a number of co-working cafes, book bars, and gyms this year, according to what Southern Daily journalists learnt at a GDD government forum attended by scholars, entrepreneurs, and social elites from the district on March 9.

This year's priority for the GDD is to develop more startups, small and medium-sized enterprises, and pioneering companies either boasting advanced technology, a large market share, high innovation ability, or fast growth rate, said Chen Xiaohua, vice-director of the administrative committee of the GDD, at the forum.

"This year, for the IAB (next generation of information technology, artificial intelligence and biological medicine) industries, the GDD will add at least 10 enterprise incubators and accelerators occupying a total area of over 300,000 square meters, Chen added. "We also look to promote the development of technology financing services to better serve high-tech innovation enterprises. By the end of 2018, the GDD is expected to host more than 300 venture capital firms which manage a total fund of 70 billion yuan ($11 billion). We will strive to introduce another 100-odd promising business projects with a total investment exceeding 200 billion yuan ($31.7 billion), as we managed to do so in 2017."

Another attendee at the forum named Zhou Yawei, director of the administrative committee of the GDD, revealed that the GDD is accelerating the construction of the second central business district (CBD) and is set to enhance the livability of the district through improvements on ecological environment, convenience services, infrastructure, healthcare, education and many other areas.

Over the year of 2017, the district made a total of 110-billion-yuan in fixed-asset investment, which had further contributed towards improving its urban infrastructure. In 2016, it was named the "Best Example of Green Development" among all the economic development zones in China.