BEIJING, July 8 (Xinhua) -- China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation (CSIC) will speed up the development of intelligent manufacturing processes at its shipyards as part of its efforts to build high-end ships, China Daily reported Monday.

CSIC is known for its abilities to build conventional ships like bulk vessels, container ships and oil tankers. Now, it is enlarging its focus areas to develop high-end ships, including floating hospitals, 20,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit container vessels and ocean farms, said He Jiwu, CSIC's vice president.

The company said their goal is to catch up with global rivals in the field, according to the paper.

In June, CSIC signed agreements worth 14.3 billion yuan (about 2 billion U.S. dollars) with domestic and global shipowners and clients in the areas of shipbuilding, ship-leasing and ship-financing.

Under the deals, the company will deliver very large crude carriers, mega bulk carriers, oil tankers, chemical carriers to shipowners.

It will also provide deep-sea intelligent fishing equipment and desulfurization facilities for mega container ships, and nuclear power equipment and other complete sets of equipment to clients.

Established in 1999, the Beijing-based company is one of China's largest shipbuilders, according to its website.