China Resources (Holdings) Co Ltd is to invest 100 billion yuan ($14.5 billion) to construct a service industry cluster by 2022 in Guiyang, capital of China's southwestern Guizhou province, taking advantage of the city's key geographic location and existing strengths in its big data industry.

"Instead of heavy industry, the city of Guiyang attaches more importance to healthcare, tourism, ecology and big data industries," said Wu Bingqi, senior vice-president of China Resources Land Limited, a subsidiary of China Resources.

"Big data means quicker and more flexible services", Wu said. "It provides an online platform for information collecting and sharing, which could be applied in every aspect of public service," added Wu.

The 25-square-kilometer cluster will comprise a commercial center, a traffic and logistics hub, an entrepreneurship base, a folk culture exhibition center, as well as hotels, hospitals, apartments and international schools. The target is for it to be completed in five years. Details of construction are in discussion with the local government.

"To answer the call to develop State-owned enterprise legally and properly, we chose to cooperate with a major city in southwestern China by making the best use of both our strengths," Wu added.

Guiyang's many ethnic groups and mild climate also suggest a great potential to develop tourism, and the pension and healthcare industries, according to Wu.

Situated at southwestern China's transport junction, Guiyang is seen as an important city along the Belt and Road Initiative, attracting more professionals and companies in the coming years, Wu said.

Guiyang Mayor Liu Wenxin said the project is a milestone in the development of Guiyang's service industry, in line with the strategy of constructing an innovative city featuring big data.

A new subway line connecting the area with Guiyangbei Railway Station will be opened in 2017 in order to improve the facilities around it, Liu said.

chenmeiling@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 01/20/2017 page17)