Zhuhai is ranked seventh in foreign trade on a 2017 list of China's top 100 cities compiled by the influential magazine published by China's General Administration of Customs (GAC).

The coastal city handled 299 billion-yuan ($46.8 billion) worth of imports and exports in 2017, up 8.6 percent. Export value grew 4.4 percent to 188 billion yuan ($29.4 billion) while imports amounted to 111 billion yuan ($17.4 billion) -- an increase of 16.4 percent.

Last year saw 1,565 foreign-invested companies set up in Zhuhai, up 94.9 percent from the previous year. The actual absorption of foreign investment rose by 6 percent to $2.4 billion.

Zhuhai foreign trade remains among top ten nationwide [File photo]

The evaluation of the foreign trade cities is based on 25 indicators of competitiveness: level, structure, benefits, development, and potential. Zhuhai has stayed in the top 10 cities for years. 

The city also is a newly designated national pilot zone for cross-border e-commerce. The designation should bolster foreign trade growth with new commercial patterns and extend logistics services relying on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. Zhuhai is also nurturing industry giants and expanding outsourcing services.