The gross domestic product of Dongguan, a major traditional manufacturing and trade center in Guangdong province, is expected to surpass 1 trillion yuan ($160 billion) for the first time in 2021, according to a government work report to the annual local legislative meeting.

In addition to Dongguan, Guangzhou, the provincial capital city, Shenzhen and Foshan of Guangdong, an economic powerhouse in South China, have surpassed 1 trillion yuan in their economic development, according to sources at local statistics bureaus. 

Also, Dongguan's population exceeded 10 million in 2021, according to Lyu Chengxi, mayor of Dongguan, in his government work report to the local annual people's congress, which opened on Tuesday.

"As part of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, we have made breakthroughs by putting innovation in priorities in development over the past five years," he said.

The city's investment in research and development accounted for 3.54 percent of its GDP in the past five years, according to Lyu.

"We will accelerate the construction of a new development pattern by enhancing the core competitiveness of the manufacturing industry and focusing on scientific and technological innovation in the next five years," he said.

The city's economy is set to grow by about 5.5 percent year-on-year in 2022, according to the report.