(Yicai Global) March 13 -- Some of China's leading tech firms are working with the Guangdong Provincial Economic & Information Commission to test autonomous vehicles at a demo facility for Guangzhou Automobile Group Co.

Tencent Holdings Ltd., Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. And Huawei Technologies Co. are among the list of firms involved in the project, regional news outlet Nanfang Media reported, quoting the commission's director Tu Gaokun. Guangdong is mulling setting up the base in its northern reaches, he added, saying it would be the first of its kind in China.

Autonomous vehicles have been a hot topic at this year's 'Two Sessions,' the annual assemblies of China's top and legislative and political advisory bodies. Zeng Qinghong, Guangzhou Auto's chairman, has suggested ramping up legislation in the field.

The Ministry of Transport is already creating development plans for self-driving technology, Transport Minister Li Xiaopeng said last month. It is working on drafting technical specifications, building test bases and working with other departments to formulate guidelines on road testing to facilitate the technology. Shanghai became the second Chinese city to unveil administrative measures for autonomous vehicle road tests on March 1, Beijing was the first.