Beijing is planning to build a 120-storey hi-tech building, which will be the world's tallest standing 520 meters (1,716 feet), it was reported Monday.

The one-billion-dollar building was part of the many deals signed at the start of Beijing International High-tech Industries Week over the weekend, the Wen Wei Po said.

Nearly 100 hi-tech companies will be housed in the building, which will also become the symbol of Beijing, when completed, it said.

The report did not say when construction of the "intelligent" building would begin in Beijing's first economic development zone.

Malaysia's Petronas twin towers are currently the world's tallest office building at 452 meters (1,491.6 feet) followed by Sear's Tower in Chicago, at 443 meters (1,461.9 feet), and Shanghai's foreign trade building complex at 420 meters (1,386 feet).

(People's Daily 05/14/2001)