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On October 25, 2024, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) released the 2024 GaWC global city rankings. In the 2024 list, more than 300 cities around the world were shortlisted, and more than 40 cities in China were among them. Among them, Nanjing ranked 75th in the world, up 10 places from 2022.
The 2024 World Cities Rankings were released by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network (GaWC) on October 25, 2024. In this year’s rankings, over 300 cities worldwide were shortlisted, with more than 40 Chinese cities making the list. Among them, Nanjing ranked 75th globally, climbing 10 places from its position in 2022.
GaWC has been publishing the World Cities Ranking irregularly since 2000. According to the official website of the organization, this year’s selection data comes from 175 institutions around the world, which provide modern and emerging production services to 785 cities around the world. This ranking reflects the importance of cities as nodes in the world city network (i.e. promoting the globalization of enterprises).
Since its inception in 2000, GaWC has periodically published the World Cities Report . According to GaWC’s official website, this year’s ranking data is sourced from 175 institutions worldwide. These institutions provide modern and emerging production services to 785 cities globally, reflecting the importance of cities as nodes within the global urban network-that is, facilitating enterprise globalization.
Based on the position and level in the global network, GaWC divides world cities into four levels: Alpha (first-tier), Beta (second-tier), Gamma (third-tier), and Sufficiency (self-sufficiency), to indicate the position and degree of integration of different cities in the global economy.
Based on their “connectivity” within four “advanced service” industries—accountancy, advertising, banking/finance, and law, GaWC categorizes world cities into four tiers: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Sufficiency, indicating different levels of positioning and integration of cities within the global economy.
Image source: GaWC official website
Source: The Official Website of GaWC
In this list, there are 8 Alpha+ (world’s first-tier strong cities) in the world, and 3 cities in my country are selected, namely Hong Kong, Beijing and Shanghai.
Guangzhou is listed in Alpha (world’s first-tier cities).
Chinese Taipei and Shenzhen are Alpha- (weak first-tier cities in the world).
17 cities including Chengdu, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Chongqing , Nanjing , Wuhan, Xiamen and Shenyang are ranked at the Beta (world’s second-tier cities) level.
In this ranking, there are eight Alpha+ cities (first-tier world cities), including three from China: Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shanghai.Guangzhou is listed as an Alpha city (world-class first-tier city),while Taipei and Shenzhen are classified as Alpha- (weak first-tier world cities).Chengdu, Tianjin, Hangzhou, Chongqing, Nanjing, Wuhan, Xiamen, Shenyang, and 9 other cities are ranked in the Beta category (second-tier world city).
The report shows that compared with the ranking data of previous years, the global connectivity of Chinese cities, cities in the Gulf region and Singapore has increased significantly. Nanjing achieved a leap in the 2018 ranking, from Gamma+ (a third-tier city in the world) to Beta (a second-tier city in the world), and ranked among the top 100 in the world for the first time.
Since 2018, Nanjing’s ranking among Beta-level cities has continued to rise.
Compared to previous years, the report indicates a significant increase in global connectivity for Chinese cities, cities in the Gulf regions and Singapore. Nanjing achieved a significant leap in the 2018 rankings, moving up from Gamma+ (strong third-tier world city) to Beta (second-tier world city), entering the top 100 world cities for the first time. Since 2018, Nanjing’s ranking among Beta-level cities has been steadily rising.
At present, Nanjing has carried out trade cooperation with more than 200 countries and regions in the world, with overseas investments distributed in more than 90 countries and regions. It has attracted foreign investors from more than 130 countries and regions, including 113 Fortune 500 companies, and has established friendly relations with 106 cities in 58 countries.
Currently, Nanjing has established trade cooperation with over 200 countries and regions, with foreign investments spread across more than 90 countries and regions. It has attracted investment from over 130 countries and regions, including 113 Fortune Global 500 companies. Nanjing has also formed sister- city relationships with 106 cities in 58 countries.
In the future, Nanjing will further strengthen its interaction and exchanges with international organizations, domestic and foreign economic and trade representative offices, well-known business associations and other resources, continue to build and improve the global economic and trade network, accelerate the pace of connecting with the world, and continuously broaden and deepen its integration in the globalized economy, contributing Nanjing’s strength to the construction of a two-way open hub with global cohesion.
Moving forward, Nanjing will further strengthen interactions with international organizations, domestic and foreign economic and trade representative institutions, and renowned business associations. By continuously building and improving its global economic and trade network, Nanjing seeks to accelerate its integration into the global economy for expanded and deepened involvement in globalization, contributing Nanjing’s strength to building a two-way open hub with global cohesion.
