The Global City Competitiveness Report (2019-2020) was released at the China Social Science Forum held in Ningbo, Zhejiang province, on Nov 12.

In terms of global economic competitiveness, Yantai in Shandong province ranked 175th among the global top 200. Another two cities in the province also made the list, with Qingdao ranking 76th and Jinan 141st.

The report was jointly authored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and UN HABITAT.

Economic competitiveness refers to the value a city creates and how it provides social services for residents utilizing its own economic advantages and resources. The report annually evaluates the economic competitiveness of cities around the world based on a comprehensive urban economic ranking system.

The report found that the average level of economic competitiveness fell this year due to a sluggish global economy.

But the development pace of major Chinese cities hasn't slowed, and they remain competitive globally. The number of Chinese cities that joined the top 100 rose from 18 last year to 20 this year. A number of second and third-tier cities also performed well.

Another highlight of this year's report is that for the first time it monitors the progress of major cities in achieving United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals –– from the perspective of urban sustainable competitiveness, after the 2018-2019 report on Global Urban Competitiveness was released at the UN headquarters.