Shanghai stays in the running

SHANGHAI ranks as the second most competitive city in China in 2007, after Hong Kong which remains in first place.

The 2007 Chinese Cities Competitiveness Billboard report said Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing are the three most competitive cities in China in an evaluation of economical, social, environmental and cultural standards, China News Services reported yesterday.

The billboard report was released on Thursday.

The top five ranks have not changed from last year. The fourth city is Shenzhen and the fifth is Taipei of Taiwan.

Shanghai has been among the top three since the Hong Kong-based China Institute of City Competitiveness started its ranking in 2002.

Shanghai was the second in 2006 and 2005 and was the third in 2004, 2003 and 2002.

For the ranking for competitiveness in growth, Shenzhen, for the second year, has the most potential and Hong Kong drops from last year's fourth placing to be sixth on the ladder.

"Hong Kong's growth potential ranking fell because of the more rapid development of the mainland cities," said Gui Qiangfang, chairman of the institute.

Hong Kong is still strongest for overall competitiveness, Gui added.

Other mainland cities among the surveyed 289 Chinese cities will not be able to shake its position as a financial center or take over as an investment headquarters in the coming 15 or 20 years, the report said.

Hong Kong and Shenzhen were also held to be the best for intercity cooperation in the report as the two were closely tied in economics and are planning an international metropolis to surpass London by 2020.

Hong Kong was also regarded the most international Chinese city in the report and has the most honest and trustworthy government, the report said.

The study assessed the cities in terms of overall competitiveness, growth competitiveness, internationalization, intercity cooperation, the way the cities were branded and standards of living.