2013/04/06

On April 6, 2013, ICC-NDRC held a press conference on the Boao Forum for Asia and released an opening-up index of China cities. The conference was moderated by Cao Wenlian, Director-General of ICC-NDRC and Vice Secretary-General of CCIEE. Zhang Xiaoqiang, Vice Chairman of NDRC, Wei Jianguo, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of CCIEE, and Li Xuedong, Deputy Director-General of the International Department of NDRC, attended the press conference and took questions from the media.

Last year, ICC released the opening up ranking of 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions in China. This year, the ranking included 32 provincial capitals and cities specifically designated in the state plan. The study report concluded the opening-up level of each city based on its social, economic and technological performance. Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Xiamen are ranked at the top, listed as Gold Cities of Opening-up; Hangzhou, Ningbo, Nanjing, Dalian and Qingdao come second, listed as Silver Cities of Opening-up; Wuhan ranks top among cities in Middle China and thus being regarded the star of opening-up in Middle China; Chengdu and Xi'an are stars of opening-up in West China.

Zhang Xiaoqiang pointed out that China had to achieve a new type of urbanization with high quality. This is not simply about more buildings, better ecological conditions and more employment opportunities. More importantly, it is about equal access to public services. This requires institutional reforms and supportive policies, including the registered household reform, urban and rural land reform, etc. Zhang believed the development of core cities can boost regional development, and a higher level of opening-up will expedite urbanization.

At the press conference, Wei Jianguo said that the study was important for promoting opening-up and urbanization. Cities of China should focus more on the quality of development and promote opening-up instead of developing aimlessly.