Guangzhou, Guangdong province, will build 73 new digital infrastructure projects valued at more than 180 billion yuan ($25.7 billion). Signing ceremonies were held via the cloud on Friday.

The projects — involving 5G, artificial intelligence, big data, internet of things, industrial internet, blockchains and entertainment networks — are expected to play an important role in accelerating the digital economy in the southern metropolis, according to a statement released by the city government on Friday.

The project deals, signed by the city and some 300 domestic and foreign technology giants and major internet companies — Huawei, Baidu and JD among them — will help push Guangzhou, already a major center of commerce, toward its goal of being a smart city in the years ahead, the statement said.

The city government has mapped out its ambitions for the development of its digital economy and promises to expand its investment and introduce more preferential policies to develop its digital economy, it said.

Zhang Shuofu, Party chief of Guangzhou; Qin Weizhong, deputy governor of Guangdong province; and Wen Guohui, mayor of Guangzhou, attended the signing ceremonies.