Located at the estuary of the Yangtze River in eastern China and facing the Pacific Ocean, Shanghai, together with the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Anhui, forms the Yangtze River Delta, one of China's most robust, open and innovative regions. According to the data as of the end of 2022, the city covered a total area of 6,340.5 square kilometers, comprising 16 administrative regions, and was home to a resident population of 24,758,900. The city had a per capita GDP of 179,900 yuan (24,700 U.S. dollars), and an average life expectancy of 83.18 years, placing it at the top of global rankings.

Shanghai is China's largest international economic center and an important international financial hub. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), Shanghai basically established itself as an international economic center, with level of its real economy continuously upgraded. Shanghai’s GDP successively surpassed the thresholds of 3 trillion yuan and 4 trillion yuan and reached 4.47 trillion yuan (approximately 0.61 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2022, ranking sixth among global cities in terms of GDP. In 2022, the total transaction volume of Shanghai's financial market reached 2,932.98 trillion yuan (approximately 403.5 trillion U.S. dollars).

Shanghai is one of the most international cities in China, with 902 headquarters of multinational companies and 536 foreign-invested R&D centers established as of February 2023. By the end of 2022, a total of 71 foreign news agencies had established branches in Shanghai, and 380,000 work permits had been issued to foreigners, with high-caliber talents accounting for 19%. Shanghai ranks first in the country in terms of both the quantity and quality of foreign professionals it attracts and has been rated as one of the most attractive Chinese cities for foreigners for 12 years in a row.

Shanghai is also a world-renowned cultural metropolis and international tourist destination, with 20 public libraries and 159 museums by the end of 2022. In 2022, Shanghai hosted 46 domestic and international major sports events, as well as significant cultural events such as the 33rd Shanghai Tourism Festival and the 10th  Shanghai Citizens Art Festival.

Shanghai aims to enhance its urban soft power while strengthening its hard power to match its ambition to become a metropolis with global influence. Going forward, Shanghai will promote its vision of "Inclusiveness, Pursuit of excellence, Broad-mindedness and Humility" and showcase its "International, Innovative and Inclusive" character. Focusing on high-quality development, Shanghai will develop itself into an international economic, financial, trade, shipping, and science and technology innovation center, as well as a global digital city with great influence, a desirable eco-friendly city of culture and innovation, and a modern socialist metropolis of international influence.