China's Provincial Economy Report on Comprehensive Competitiveness (2005-2006), a blueprint for China's provincial competitiveness in 2007, was released by the Scientific and Technical Documents Publishing House. China's 31 provincial administrative districts are competing economically, driving development.

Adopting a mainstream method of study accepted internationally for regional economic research, data from 31 administrative districts was analyzed. The report covered 215 items, with levels of competitiveness levels classified into 4 categories.

According to the statistics, the most competitive provinces are Shanghai city, Beijing city, Guangdong province, Jiangsu province, Zhejiang province, Shangdong province, Tianjin city, Liaoning province, Fujian province, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

Shanghai, Beijing, and Guangdong continue to hold their places as the most economically competitive, performing outstandingly in 8 second-grade items. The role of the government in Shanghai, the intellectual competitiveness of Beijing, and economic development environment in Guangdong are all ranked highest. However, in terms of government competitiveness, Beijing is ranked 11th. In terms of sustainable development competitiveness, Guangdong lags behind and needs to improve. In 2005, the highest ranking provinces in terms of sustainable development were: Liaoning province, Heilongjiang province, Shandong province, Beijing city, Zhejiang province, Tianjin city, Fujian province, Sichuan province, Jilin province, and Henan province.

Since 2004, seven districts from western China have increased their competitiveness in terms of economic development. Sichuan province moved 8 places up the list; Shaanxi province, Chongqing, and Qinghai province moved three places up the list; Yunnan province by two places; and Inner Mongolia and Guangxi by one place. Districts that have fallen on the list include Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and Gansu province.

By People's Daily Online