Shenzhen and Guangzhou rank 5th and 6th respectively in overall competitiveness in a field of 200 major Chinese cities, according to an annual report on urban competitiveness published by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences yesterday (March 20,2006).

Hong Kong, Taipei and Shanghai beat out the counterparts and ranked in the top 3.  According to a senior researcher Ni Pengfei, it was the first time the top government think tank included cities outside the mainland in its annual analysis, which has become a reference for city planners and investors since it was first released in 2003. Ni and his team of 100 experts factored in economic growth, market share, productivity, environmental resources, levels of technological innovation and per-capita income to compile the list.

Editor: Yan