SASS: Globalization enters phase 4.0, shaping sustainable order

Globalization has entered into a 4.0 phase, characterized by a more inclusive, balanced and sustainable global order, experts from the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences said while launching the 2025 edition of the Blue Book of World Cities in Shanghai on Tuesday.

Key drivers including technological transformation, influence from major countries, and evolving international mechanisms, are prompting global cities to adapt and respond as globalization reaches this new stage, they said.

Under this new paradigm, the operational logic of global cities is adjusting toward localization, regionalization, innovation-orientation and inclusivity, said the experts.

"Competition among global cities has expanded from merely economic metrics to a number of fields, including comprehensive functional systems, the application of new technologies, as well as city resilience and security," said Su Ning, an associate researcher with the Institute of World Economy of SASS.

"We suggested that to meet the demands of this new globalization phase, the network of global cities should expand further, embracing more diverse and high-potential emerging node cities," he said.

Experts highlighted that cities in the Global South are becoming critical contributors to this network, driven by their inclusivity, diversity and neutrality-oriented approaches. These cities will play a historic role in advancing inclusive global development and enhancing network integrity, they said.

The blue book is a think tank product developed by a team dedicated to researching innovations of global urban development strategies at SASS. Its mission is to provide an international reference framework for China's urban development.