2005-2006

Coordinated by Dr. Ni Pengfei, cooperated by Nankai University, Tsinghua University, Peking University and many other local research institutes, the book 2005 Blue Book of Urban Competitiveness_ Annual Report on Urban Competitiveness No.3 was finished and published by Social Sciences Academic Press on March 17^th. Considering industries cluster’s status as foundation of competitiveness and the importance of the first year of “the 11^th Five-Year Plan”, this report take the industries cluster as the theme of 2005 annual report. Based on our economic census of 175 industries of 280 cities in China, this report for the first time demonstrated 18 pictures of Chinese industries clusters. And what is the most import is our annual discovery: Cluster—the Economic Lifeline of China. Industries cluster has already become the economic lifeline of China. In another word, economic cluster induced by industries cluster has become one of the most important sources and engines of China’s economic development. From these pictures illustrated in the report, we can find an economic line looming and stretching thousands of miles from northeastern area, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, Shandong Peninsula, Jiangsu-Zhejiang-Shanghai area, west coast of Taiwan Strait to Zhujiang Delta. In addition, in central and western areas, the process of integration of isolated economic clusters is beginning to take shape.

Based on large scale of economic research, it is found that 160 out of 288 cities have industries clusters. The only difference is the steps of progress of each city’s development. Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Fujian have obvious industries clusters. So do cities located in central and western China. Recently industries clusters of different size accounted nearly several thousand. In addition, it is found that within the total 175 industries, most industries are clustered, in which textile, clothing, stationery, electronic equipment, machinery manufacture are most significant.

Besides the discoveries above, it is found that Chinese industries cluster is still at the basic step of development. Specifically speaking, the distribution of industries cluster is extremely imbalanced. For example, industries cluster is flourishing in eastern area, while in central and western area, it is at the beginning stage. Traditional industries are clustering at a high speed while high-tech industries are developing in isolated areas. In addition, industries cluster mainly happens in small towns by the advantage of low cost.

Table: Top 10 cities according to Rankings of Sub-Item Competitiveness