Chongqing Ranks the 16th Among World's Top 20 Most Dynamic Cities

By Yuling Chen, EDITOR

Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) is the world’s leading consulting company. It released the sixth iteration of the City Momentum Index for the global cities recently. Among them, Chongqing entered in the list of the Top 20 most dynamic cities.

Central Chongqing (Photo by Zheng Hao)

From this report, the cities winning this honor are Bangalore, Hyderabad, Hanoi, Delhi, Pune, Nairobi, Chennai, Ho Chi Minh City, Xi’an, Guangzhou, Nanjing, Manila, Beijing, Shanghai, Kolkata, Chongqing, Hangzhou, Bangkok, Shenzhen, and Chengdu in order. Nine cities of China ranked among this list, where Chongqing has taken the 16th position for the first time.

The ranking is based on the JLL City Momentum Index. It focuses on urban size, the driving forces of economic and social development, development level, and average per capita income. And it also highlights the radiation and driving performance of a city and the foreign investment. Then, JLL evaluated the motive forces for the development of the targeted cities. According to JLL, Asia Pacific is home to 19 of the top 20 cities in this year’s index. It indicates the continuing trend that eastern cities are developing faster than their western counterparts.

Lianglu-Cuntan Free Trade Port Area (CFTA), Chongqing

Chongqing’s entry into this list is closely related to its achievements in many aspects. It includes optimized economic structures, upgraded talent pool, and improved urban environment in recent years.

He Leye is the Managing Director and the Head of Markets Department of JLL’s Chongqing. He expressed that Chongqing has optimized its economic structures under the innovation-driven development strategy led by Big Data Intelligence. In 2018, Chongqing’s tertiary industry grew by 9.1%, accounting for over 50% of its GDP for the first time. The rapid development of the tertiary industry has accelerated the replacement of old growth drivers with new ones. Meanwhile, the “Big Data +” will bring new ideas for industrial upgrading. Then, new industrial forms will invigorate the development of cities.

Meanwhile, Chongqing has made remarkable achievements in opening-up and building green and livable city. In 2018, the foreign direct investment in Chongqing reached USD 3.25 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 43.8%, ranked first in Western China. Chongqing is striving to promote the construction of the city with beautiful natural landscapes. From Chongqing Urban Upgrading Action Plan issued in 2018, the city will promote its urban quality from several aspects. They include urban planning and construction, infrastructure, ecology, culture, public services, etc.

As for how to further enhance the urban vitality of Chongqing, He Leye added another opinion. He believes that Chongqing needs to define the values of different districts and realize the organic integration among them. While the new districts and regions are developing fast, the city needs to upgrade and revitalize the old too. Besides, Chongqing also needs to promote city-industry integration. Thus, industrial development and urban function improvement will develop in a coordinated way. Then, Chongqing will attract diversified talents and intensify its investment in higher education. The gathering of talents will promote the high-quality development of industry and urban economy, thus releasing the vitality. At last, it will ultimately enhance the city’s core competitiveness.

Source: CQCB

Relevant link:

https://www.ichongqing.info/outline-of-chongqing/chongqing-life-on-the-spicy-side/