Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, most open Chinese regions

Boao (CNS) -- Shanghai, Beijing and Guangdong have been assessed as the most open of Chinese regions, in a report on the openness indexes of 31 mainland Chinese provinces released by the International Cooperation Centre under the National Development and Reform Commission on Saturday.

The study, by means of quantitative analyses, aims to identify the factors that contribute to a region's openness, and how the extent of that quality affects its sustainable economic growth.

Tianjin, Fujian, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, and Liaoning are categorized as a group. Hainan and Shandong have the most potential to develop its external relations, and Inner Mongolia, Ningxia, Tibet, Qinghai, and Guizhou form the pack deemed to have the least 'fresh air' from the outside.

Shanghai leads the country as an open economic entity, thanks to its prosperous financial and shipping industries. Beijing performed best in technology development. Guangdong interacts with the exterior mostly via its processing trade sector, but still lags behind the other two in technology and innovation.