Qingdao has moved up five places in the global city rankings in the 2020 edition of the Global Cities Report released by management consulting firm Kearney on Nov 18.

The report, which includes the Global Cities Index (GCI) and the Global Cities Outlook (GCO), provides a comprehensive analysis of global cities' current competitiveness and future prospects.

Qingdao boasts picturesque landscapes and a vibrant economy. [Photo/VCG]

The coastal city of Qingdao was ranked 105th in the world in terms of the GCI, five places higher than in 2019. It was 14th among Chinese mainland cities on the list, ahead of Zhengzhou, Ningbo and Wuxi.

The top 13 Chinese mainland cities were Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Tianjin, Suzhou, Xi'an, Chongqing and Changsha.

Kearney said that overall global city scores and rankings are based on a weighted, composite value of five dimensions of globalization: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement.

Competitive marine economy, the growth of unicorn enterprises and the increase of global professional service branches contributed to the improvement of Qingdao's business activity scores.

In addition, Qingdao has become a top destination for investment and global talents due to its high-quality livable environment and business climate.

As a port city, its ports, waterways and related landside intermodal connectors serve as vital links for international and domestic trade.

The Qingdao Port is connected to more than 700 ports in more than 180 countries and regions around the world through over 170 maritime routes. The port handles more than 600 million tons of goods and over 21 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) annually.

The city is also promoting an innovation-driven development strategy to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and foster sustained economic development.