On December 27, the Global Times held the summit forum themed “Global Watch-China and World” and the 2013 award ceremony for ranking lists made by it in Beijing. Yichang, with its advantages in many respects, stands out and becomes one of the most investment-attractive cities in China.

　　It is learned that, among the 20 cities that win the award, 15 are provincial capitals and only two are prefecture-level cities-Yichang and Kashgar.

　　Global Times ranking lists are based on the reports of Global Times and the other internationally influential media, the data of the surveys conducted by Global Center of Public Sentiment, and the opinions of many experts. The Global Times ranking list for cities comprehensively evaluates the cities from the perspective of urbanization, tourist environment, ecological environment, history and culture, economy and finance, as well as the investment appeal and potential. The list has been worked out on the basis of the following factors: the questionnaires, data statistics and analysis, and the appraisal made by the jury consisting of specialists. The evaluation process this time, compared with the previous ones, invited the most professional experts, followed the strictest criteria, was carried out in the largest scale, and attracted the most media. In short, it is in adherence with the international standard and professional level.

　　Yichang, with its profound culture and the rich resources of tourism, hydroelectricity, and minerals, is the National Civilized City, the sub-central city of Hubei Province, the central city in the region of the upper and middle reaches of the Yangtze River and the location of the famous Three Gorges Dam. At present, Yichang has been striving to promote the mega-city construction, building an excellent environment for investment and development, offering the administrative service with quality and efficiency, and forging the six 100-billion industries. It has been rated as “The Best City for Factories in China”, “The Important City for Gradient Transfer of Processing Trade” and “The Most Investment-attractive City in China”. Many famous enterprises at home and abroad have invested in Yichang, which include L’Oreal from France, Mitsui from Japan, China Resources from Hong Kong, as well as some Chinese companies Junyao, CSG, Wanda, to name just a few. They all have settled down quickly and developed rapidly.

　　It is learned that, in 2013, Yichang possesses 1,436 newly-commenced projects, 800 projects with an investment of over 100 million RMB yuan under construction, and 687 investment promotion projects. And the city’s fixed investment is over 200 billion RMB yuan, the total investment on the agreements has reached 483.1 billion RMB yuan, and the paid-in investment stimulated by the investment promotion program has reached 93 billion RMB yuan. (Guest reporter: Yi Shixuan; reporter: Cai Junting; Correspondent: Ding Yuanguo)