Digital China Holdings Limited, one of the largest integrated information technology services providers in China, announced plan to establish a joint smart city planning institute in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province, on Monday.

The institute, a collaborative project with the Guangzhou City Construction Investment Group and other business organizations, will become an academic think tank in regards of helping Guangzhou to develop into a smart city in the near future.

"Based on Guangzhou's initiatives of developing new emerging industries, the institute will focus on research and development of new technologies to help build a smart city," Guo Wei, chairman of the board of Digital China Holdings, said.

According to Guo, the booming artificial intelligence would provide more opportunities for the city planners in building a smart city.

"We are looking for more ways of integration of technologies such as AI, and the traditional finance, infrastructure, culture, commerce and trade," said Guo.