This book makes two key contributions to urban studies. First, it emphasizes the ongoing strategic and economic relevance of cities—particularly global cities—vis-à-vis nation-states in an age of globalization and great-power competition. The author highlights how smart cities are crucial to regaining economic leadership in this transformative era. Second, it prompts a systematic examination of whether Smart City 2.0 can surpass traditional global cities—long dominated by finance and advanced producer services—to become the next generation of global hubs. This perspective challenges scholars to reconsider the spatial dynamics of economic agglomeration and dispersion across diverse urban models. A valuable resource for those engaged in contemporary urban research.—Chen Xiangming, Distinguished Professor of Global Urban Studies, Trinity College (USA), School of Social Development and Public Policy, Fudan University