Counties lead in bolstering real economic development

Eastern regions ahead in nurturing private sector, high-level opening-up

Two newly released lists ranking China's top 100 counties and districts have revealed the most economically vibrant county-and district-level regions, where experts said market mechanisms and the real economy are the pillars supporting strong and healthy economic performance.

Kunshan city in East China's Jiangsu province has remained in first place for 15 years on the list of China's top 100 counties and county-level cities, according to the report released last week by the Research Institute of Development Strategy for Small and Medium Cities.