THE PRIME MINISTER

Decision No. 198/QD-TTg dated  January 25, 2014 of the Prime Minister approving the master plan on socio-economic development of the northern key economic region through 2020, with a vision toward 2030
Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government;
Pursuant to the Government s Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP of September 7, 2006, on the formulation, approval and management of socio-economic development master plans; and Decree No. 04/2008/ND-CP of January 11, 2008, amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP;
At the proposal of the Ministry of Planning and Investment,
DECIDES:
Article 1. To approve the master plan on socio-economic development of the northern key economic region (below referred to as the region) through 2020, with a vision toward 2030, with the following principal contents:
I. POSITION AND ROLE
The northern key economic region (embracing 7 provinces and cities, namely Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hung Yen, Vinh Phuc and Bac Ninh) is a major political, economic, cultural and scientific-technological center of the country. Accommodating central agencies, executive centers of many major economic organizations and national scientific and technological training, research and application institutions, the region has been and will continue playing a particularly important role and position in the cause of national development.
It is a core development region and a driving-force territory of the Red River delta and one of the leading regions in fast and sustainable socio-economic development in the whole country. It has great tourism potential with a system of specialized medical centers and a pool of highly qualified scientific researchers who play a pivotal role in training human resources for the national industrialization and modernization.
II. DEVELOPMENT VIEWPOINTS
1. To boost the region’s socio-economic development in conformity with the national socio-economic development strategy and the master plan on socio-economic development in the Red River delta through 2020 and the country’s sectoral development master plans for deeper and wider international integration, closer and more harmonious connection to create a spillover effect to drive up the socio-economic development of the region and the country.
2. To strive for fast and sustainable socio-economic development with a view to becoming the country’s locomotive of economic development, leading the northern region and the country in industrialization and modernization. To develop a knowledge-based economy together with the renewal of the growth model and economic restructuring toward green industry in response to climate change and sea level rise.
3. To uphold its role in leading the country in the application of cutting-edge science and technology in production and management. To step up scientific and technological research and application in sectors with advantages, particularly basic researches to make science and technology a driving force for the regional development. To develop high- quality human resources to meet human resource demand of the region’s key development sectors during the integration process.
4. To closely combine economic development and socio-cultural development together with realizing social justice and progress in order to gradually improve the people’s living standards. To ensure the harmony between the economic development and the conservation, embellishment and promotion of traditional cultural values and cultural and natural heritages, and develop sports and physical training.
5. To closely combine economic development with defense and security maintenance and national sovereignty safeguarding in the process of integration and development.