Beijing ranks first in overall competitive strength in China for 16 years in the past two decades, says a report published Friday.

The Report on Regional Competitive Strength Development in China says the Chinese capital has been first in overall competitive strength each year from 1985 to 2004 among the country's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

The appraisal is based on a system developed by a research team led by Xiao Hongye, a professor at Tianjin Finance and Economics University. It takes into account nine major factors including overall economic strength, governance, infrastructure, environment and human resources.

According to the report, Shanghai, the top commercial center in China, ranked first in four years in the past two decades and has been second for 16 years, while south China's Guangdong Province ranked third for 20 consecutive years.

Shanghai ranks first, however, in the overall economic strength followed by Guangdong and Jiangsu provinces.

The overall economic strength includes added value, investment, end consumption and market scale, said the report.

(Xinhua News Agency January 23, 2005)