Core Viewpoint - The report titled "International Communication Center City Index 2025" by Tsinghua University and Deloitte China provides a new method for comparing urban competitiveness, focusing on attractiveness, influence, and connectivity, with a global perspective on 50 cities [1]. Group 1: City Rankings and Competitiveness - Beijing and Shanghai rank 6th and 8th globally among the 50 cities, while Hangzhou, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou rank 36th, 37th, and 38th respectively [1]. - Hangzhou's ranking as the "third city" in international communication is notable despite lacking advantages in consulate numbers, inbound tourist numbers, Fortune 500 companies, and international flight connectivity [1]. Group 2: Hangzhou's Advantages - Hangzhou published 269,834 scientific papers in the past decade, ranking 9th globally [1]. - The city is home to 9 Fortune Global 500 headquarters, ranking 8th [1]. - Hangzhou's mobile network connection speed is 117.2 Mbps, ranking 7th [1]. - The city has 11 UFI-recognized exhibitions, ranking 14th [1]. Group 3: Inbound Tourism Growth - Cities like Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou, and Chengdu are expected to see over 100% year-on-year growth in inbound foreign tourists in 2024, with Hangzhou leading at 191.5% [2]. Group 4: International Conference Hosting - Hangzhou ranks 140th globally and 3rd in mainland China for the number of international conferences, with 17 recognized by ICCA [3]. - The city aims to enhance its international influence by improving its conference hosting capabilities through various strategies [3]. Group 5: Importance of Hospitality and Language Proficiency - The number of high-grade hotels and the English proficiency of residents are crucial for enhancing a city's international appeal [4][7]. - Hangzhou ranks 3rd in English proficiency among Chinese cities, with a score of 509 [8]. Group 6: Learning from Beijing and Shanghai - Beijing and Shanghai lead in education and technology, with Beijing ranked 1st globally in technology innovation and Shanghai 2nd in scientific publications [9][10]. - The presence of "specialized and innovative" small giant enterprises in cities like Hangzhou can further enhance global influence [11][14]. Group 7: Opportunities for Other Cities - Cities like Shenzhen and Chengdu have their own strengths, with Shenzhen excelling in digital infrastructure and Chengdu integrating culture, creativity, and technology [15]. - The report suggests enhancing inter-city collaboration to form an "International Communication Center City Consortium" to boost regional integration and competitiveness [15].

Core Insights - The "International Communication Center City Index 2025" report was released, ranking Beijing 6th globally, an improvement from the previous year due to advancements in business environment, inbound tourism recovery, technological innovation, and transportation connectivity [1][2]. Group 1: Ranking and Methodology - The index evaluates cities based on their global factor aggregation, international political and economic exchanges, and cultural interactions, providing insights into their international communication capabilities [2]. - The top 10 cities in the ranking are London, Paris, New York, Seoul, Singapore, Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, and San Francisco, with Bangkok tied for 10th place [2]. - Beijing's attractiveness ranking improved to 19th, primarily due to a surge in inbound tourist numbers, while its influence and connectivity rankings remained at 2nd and 15th, respectively [2]. Group 2: Key Findings and Recommendations - The report highlights Beijing's core advantages in technological innovation, particularly in artificial intelligence, life sciences, and new materials, attracting top international tech talent [2][3]. - Shanghai entered the top 10 for the first time, ranking 8th, driven by recovery in inbound tourism, economic growth, and advancements in cultural education [2]. - Recommendations for international communication center cities include adjusting functional positioning, upgrading industrial structures, enhancing institutional openness, and fostering horizontal cooperation among cities to maintain technological innovation advantages [3].