Abstract: The edge aea between Jiangsu and Shanghai refers to the area with some common administrative characters of Jiangsu and Shanghai ,and in general with a close economic relationship. This study takes Nantong and Suzhou both in Jiangsu Province as the case. First, we summarized the spatial and the temporal change in the edge area between Jiangsu and Shanghai,with findings of three phases during historic evolvement in a temporal dimension, and regional difference of cooperation in a spatial dimension. Then we analyzed the main reason which caused the territorial difference in regional economic cooperation in edge areas between Jiangsu and Shanghai. On the basis of study mentioned above, we evaluated the cooperation performance in edge areas between Jiangsu and Shanghai, and considered the cooperation performance is apparent, and pointed out the direction of comparative is economic integration. On the basis of comparative analysis of three typical regional cooperation patterns of NAFTA, EU and APEC, we finally put forward several strategies in advancing cooperation in edge areas between Jiangsu and Shanghai.

Key words: edge area between Jiangsu and Shanghai, Nantong City, Suzhou City, Economic cooperation, Performance