Despite the industrial slowdown, real estate developer Guangzhou R&F Properties Co will step up its investment in soccer, aiming to become a domestic power in the sports sector in the future, a top company official said on Wednesday.

"We have introduced a long-term development strategy - we are not only investing in a soccer club, but also in the sports industry," said Lu Yi, vice-chairman of Guangzhou R&F Properties Co.

The company, which has already invested in a local soccer club, plans to build a professional soccer stadium, a training base and a soccer school to support the long-term development of the club, said Lu.