More than 200 university students from Hong Kong are expected to take on internships in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, this year.

The number marks a significant increase compared with the past two years, according to Liu Jufeng, an inspector with the Guangdong Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs.

Liu made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the 2017 Guangdong-Hong Kong Summer Vocation Internship Program in Guangzhou on Wednesday.

Guangzhou attracted a total of 238 interns from Hong Kong as part of the program in 2015 and 2016.

"The students will work as interns for between five and seven weeks at major State-owned enterprises and private companies," Liu said.

"The program, initiated in 2015, is aimed at helping Hong Kong students better understand Guangdong's economic development as well as seek employment or start a business in the province, which is one of China's economic powerhouses."

Hua Yimei, an official with the Guangzhou's Hong Kong and Macao affairs office, said lectures, surveys and tours will be organized to help the students learn about construction and development in the city.

The first group of students arrived in Guangzhou on Wednesday, with another seven groups to arrive in the coming weeks.

The program is jointly organized by the Guangdong Office of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's Home Affairs Department and the Commission on Youth.