SHIJIAZHUANG, July 6 (Xinhua) -- China Mobile on Friday announced that it will establish a research institute in the Xiongan New Area in north China's Hebei Province.

The institute will cooperate with the company's research base in Beijing on the development of cyber technology and artificial intelligence to help build Xiongan into a smart city, according to the company.

The establishment of China Mobile's research institute in Xiongan is in line with the new area's innovation-driven development, said Li Yue, CEO of China Mobile.

China Mobile is one of the first companies to have registered in Xiongan, according to an official with the management committee of the new area.

Established in April 2017, Xiongan, about 100 km southwest of Beijing, is China's third new area after the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area.

The new area will eventually cover 2,000 square km, with an expected population of 2-2.5 million.