IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/kap/netspa/v18y2018i3d10.1007_s11067-018-9408-z.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Are ‘Sister Cities’ from ‘Sister Provinces’? An Exploratory Study of Sister City Relations (SCRs) in China

Author

Listed:
  • Xingjian Liu

    (The University of Hong Kong)

  • Xiaohui Hu

    (Zhejiang University of Finance and Economics)

Abstract

Sister city relations (SCRs) represent a significant but less well researched type of inter-city (regional) networks. While most analyses of the connectivity of Chinese cities focus on economic linkages such as air traffic flows and corporate connections, limited attention has been paid to SCRs, as an emerging mediator in affecting global inter-city networks. This study not only summarizes the key specificities and patterns of SCRs development in China, but also investigates the correlations between inter-province twinning and inter-city twinning, i.e., whether cities from ‘sister provinces’ are more likely form SCRs. Our empirical analysis suggests that (1) SCRs can be fostered by cities from a province that does not have corresponding provincial-level twining relations; (2) SCRs do not necessarily link cities from ‘sister provinces’; and (3) SCRs and other global economic connections tend to be correlated for Chinese cities. The paper concludes with some theoretical reflections and research agendas for future in-depth studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Xingjian Liu & Xiaohui Hu, 2018. "Are ‘Sister Cities’ from ‘Sister Provinces’? An Exploratory Study of Sister City Relations (SCRs) in China," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 473-491, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:netspa:v:18:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11067-018-9408-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11067-018-9408-z
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11067-018-9408-z
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11067-018-9408-z?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Steven Brakman & Harry Garretsen & Abdella Oumer, 2016. "Town Twinning and German City Growth," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(8), pages 1420-1432, August.
    2. James R. Faulconbridge, 2006. "Stretching tacit knowledge beyond a local fix? Global spaces of learning in advertising professional service firms," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 6(4), pages 517-540, August.
    3. César Ducruet & Laurent Beauguitte, 2014. "Network science and spatial science : Review and outcomes of a complex relationship," Post-Print hal-03246947, HAL.
    4. Xingjian Liu & Ben Derudder & Kang Wu, 2016. "Measuring Polycentric Urban Development in China: An Intercity Transportation Network Perspective," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(8), pages 1302-1315, August.
    5. Norma Rantisi, 2002. "The Local Innovation System as a Source of 'Variety': Openness and Adaptability in New York City's Garment District," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(6), pages 587-602.
    6. B. Ramasamy & R. D. Cremer, 1998. "Cities, commerce and culture: The economic role of international sister‐city relationships between New Zealand and Asia," Journal of the Asia Pacific Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 3(3), pages 446-461.
    7. Bathelt, Harald & Gluckler, Johannes, 2011. "The Relational Economy: Geographies of Knowing and Learning," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199587391.
    8. repec:ces:ifodic:v:13:y:2016:i:4:p:19191589 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Miaoxi Zhao & Xingjian Liu & Ben Derudder & Ye Zhong & Wei Shen, 2015. "Mapping producer services networks in mainland Chinese cities," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(16), pages 3018-3034, December.
    10. Peter J. Taylor & Michael Hoyler & Raf Verbruggen, 2010. "External Urban Relational Process: Introducing Central Flow Theory to Complement Central Place Theory," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 47(13), pages 2803-2818, November.
    11. Liu, Xingjian & Derudder, Ben & García, Cándida Gago, 2013. "Exploring the co-evolution of the geographies of air transport aviation and corporate networks," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 26-36.
    12. César Ducruet & Laurent Beauguitte, 2014. "Spatial Science and Network Science: Review and Outcomes of a Complex Relationship," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 14(3), pages 297-316, December.
    13. Xiaohui Hu & Robert Hassink, 2017. "Place leadership with Chinese characteristics? A case study of the Zaozhuang coal-mining region in transition," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 51(2), pages 224-234, February.
    14. Steven Brakman & Harry Garretsen & Abdella Oumer, 2016. "Town Twinning and German City Growth," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 13(04), pages 48-54, February.
    15. Wang, Jiaoe & Mo, Huihui & Wang, Fahui & Jin, Fengjun, 2011. "Exploring the network structure and nodal centrality of China’s air transport network: A complex network approach," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 19(4), pages 712-721.
    16. Pertti Joenniemi & Jarosław Jańczak, 2017. "Theorizing Town Twinning—Towards a Global Perspective," Journal of Borderlands Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 32(4), pages 423-428, October.
    17. Ron Boschma, 2005. "Proximity and Innovation: A Critical Assessment," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 61-74.
    18. Robert Huggins & Piers Thompson, 2017. "Networks and regional economic growth: A spatial analysis of knowledge ties," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 49(6), pages 1247-1265, June.
    19. John Östh & Martina Dolciotti & Aura Reggiani & Peter Nijkamp, 2018. "Social Capital, Resilience and Accessibility in Urban Systems: a Study on Sweden," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(2), pages 313-336, June.
    20. Steven Brakman & Harry Garretsen & Abdella Oumer, 2016. "Town Twinning and German City Growth," ifo DICE Report, ifo Institute - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research at the University of Munich, vol. 13(4), pages 48-54, 02.
    21. Dominic Power & Johan Jansson, 2008. "Cyclical Clusters in Global Circuits: Overlapping Spaces in Furniture Trade Fairs," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 84(4), pages 423-448, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Fuchs, Andreas & Kaplan, Lennart & Kis-Katos, Krisztina & Schmidt, Sebastian S. & Turbanisch, Felix & Wang, Feicheng, 2020. "Mask wars: China's exports of medical goods in times of COVID-19," Kiel Working Papers 2161, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
    2. Feng, Gen-Fu & Zheng, Mingbo & Wen, Jun & Chang, Chun-Ping & Chen, Yin E., 2019. "The assessment of globalization on innovation in Chinese manufacturing firms," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 190-202.
    3. Jianjun Zhou & Tingting Cao, 2024. "International friendship cities, spatial spillover effect and urban export growth: Evidence from China," Australian Economic Papers, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 63(2), pages 302-328, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Tianyou Hu & Siddharth Natarajan & Andrew Delios, 2021. "Sister cities, cross-national FDI, and the subnational FDI location decision," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 52(7), pages 1279-1301, September.
    2. Lian, Zeng & Ma, Yunfeng & Chen, Li & He, Rong, 2024. "The role of cities in cross-border mergers and acquisitions — Evidence from China," International Review of Economics & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 1482-1498.
    3. Zhang, Yameng & Zhan, Wu & Xu, Yekun & Kumar, Vikas, 2020. "International friendship cities, regional government leaders, and outward foreign direct investment from China," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 105-118.
    4. Harald Bathelt & Sebastian Henn, 2014. "The Geographies of Knowledge Transfers over Distance: Toward a Typology," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 46(6), pages 1403-1424, June.
    5. Peng Gao & Dan He & Zhijing Sun & Yuemin Ning, 2020. "Characterizing functionally integrated regions in the Central Yangtze River Megaregion from a city‐network perspective," Growth and Change, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(3), pages 1357-1379, September.
    6. Gergő Tóth & Zoltán Elekes & Adam Whittle & Changjun Lee & Dieter F. Kogler, 2022. "Technology Network Structure Conditions the Economic Resilience of Regions," Economic Geography, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 98(4), pages 355-378, August.
    7. Ducruet, César, 2017. "Multilayer dynamics of complex spatial networks: The case of global maritime flows (1977–2008)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 60(C), pages 47-58.
    8. Cats, Oded, 2017. "Topological evolution of a metropolitan rail transport network: The case of Stockholm," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 172-183.
    9. Tom Broekel & Marcel Bednarz, 2018. "Disentangling link formation and dissolution in spatial networks: An Application of a Two-Mode STERGM to a Project-Based R&D Network in the German Biotechnology Industry," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 677-704, September.
    10. Harald Bathelt & John A Cantwell & Ram Mudambi, 2018. "Overcoming frictions in transnational knowledge flows: challenges of connecting, sense-making and integrating," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 18(5), pages 1001-1022.
    11. Youxing Huang & Meixia Dong & Yanping Zhao, 2024. "Sister‐city Ties and Chinese Outward Foreign Direct Investment: A Spatial Econometric Analysis," China & World Economy, Institute of World Economics and Politics, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, vol. 32(1), pages 231-258, January.
    12. Justin Berli & Mattia Bunel & César Ducruet, 2018. "Sea-Land Interdependence in the Global Maritime Network: the Case of Australian Port Cities," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 447-471, September.
    13. Weidenfeld, Adi & Makkonen, Teemu & Clifton, Nick, 2021. "From interregional knowledge networks to systems," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    14. Nicanor García Álvarez & Belarmino Adenso-Díaz & Laura Calzada-Infante, 2021. "Maritime Traffic as a Complex Network: a Systematic Review," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 387-417, June.
    15. Justin Berli & Mattia Bunel & César Ducruet, 2018. "Sea-Land Interdependence in the Global Maritime Network: the Case of Australian Port Cities," Post-Print hal-01806692, HAL.
    16. Zachary Neal, 2018. "Is the Urban World Small? The Evidence for Small World Structure in Urban Networks," Networks and Spatial Economics, Springer, vol. 18(3), pages 615-631, September.
    17. Ducruet, César & Cuyala, Sylvain & El Hosni, Ali, 2018. "Maritime networks as systems of cities: The long-term interdependencies between global shipping flows and urban development (1890–2010)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 340-355.
    18. James Faulconbridge & Sarah Hall, 2011. "Business Knowledges Within and Between the World City," Chapters, in: Ben Derudder & Michael Hoyler & Peter J. Taylor & Frank Witlox (ed.), International Handbook of Globalization and World Cities, chapter 20, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    19. Hautala, Johanna & Jauhiainen, Jussi S., 2014. "Spatio-temporal processes of knowledge creation," Research Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(4), pages 655-668.
    20. Shuai Shi & Kathy Pain, 2020. "Investigating China’s Mid-Yangtze River economic growth region using a spatial network growth model," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(14), pages 2973-2993, November.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:kap:netspa:v:18:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s11067-018-9408-z. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.