Beijing has most Fortune 500 headquarters in the world

Beijing is home to a total of 48 Fortune Global 500 company headquarters, replacing Tokyo at the top of the ranking, the Beijing Morning Post said, citing a report.

The China Headquarters Economy Development Report (2013-2014) released Thursday by the Social Sciences Academic Press said a large number of the country's state-owned enterprises also have their headquarters in Beijing.

Zhao Hong, deputy director at the Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, said China had 95 companies listed among the Fortune Global 500 in 2013, second only to the US.

China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec), China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) and the State Grid Corporation of China were among the top 10, ranking fourth, fifth and seventh respectively.

However, the report noted that Beijing has limited influence among its neighboring areas' development, while Shanghai has benefited the Yangtze River Delta.

The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde said in London this month that the IMF's headquarters may one day leave Washington for Beijing, aligning with China's growing influence on the world economy, according to Bloomberg.