The China Urban International Communication Influence Index Report (2024) was released at the fifth Hangzhou Forum for China's Digital City Branding on Nov 16, with Hangzhou maintaining its position at third place nationwide, excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan.

The report, compiled by Wei Lu's team from Zhejiang University, evaluated 39 major cities, including municipalities, provincial capitals, and sub-provincial cities. It highlights rankings in areas such as "Network Communication Influence," focusing on social media follower counts, and "International Visitor Influence," which analyzes reviews of attractions on major platforms.

The forum also saw the debut of the Hangzhou Digital City Communication Power Evaluation Report (2024) by Zhejiang University's Digital Communication Research Center. The report places Hangzhou as a leader in digital communication development within the Yangtze River Delta region and across China.

Professor Zhang Zike, deputy director of the Digital Communication Research Center, explained "digital communication power" using practical examples. For instance, in Hangzhou, traffic systems now prioritize communication with other urban systems before contacting citizens, considering factors like traffic credit. Such innovations aim to enhance residents' sense of participation, safety, and happiness.