In particular, the merger of provincial-level administrative units according to the plan approved by competent authorities aims to reduce the number, increase the scale of administrative units, expand development space, and maximize the potential advantages of localities.
The notable content is that this draft Resolution sets out criteria for arrangement and merger for provincial-level administrative units that closely follow the criteria considered and agreed upon by the Politburo, including:
1. Natural area and population size criteria
Implement the arrangement for provincial-level administrative units with natural areas or population values below 100% of the administrative units' standards corresponding to the provisions of Resolution No. 1211/2016/UBTVQH13 of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the standards of administrative units and the classification of administrative units has been amended and supplemented with a number of articles according to Resolution No. 27/2022/UBTVQH15 of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
2. Criteria on history, tradition, culture, ethnicity:
The provincial-level administrative units have similar historical, traditional, cultural and ethnic factors, ensuring the close solidarity of the community; preserving and promoting the culture, history and ethnic groups of each locality.
3. Geo-economic criteria:
The provincial-level administrative units have adjacent geographical locations, natural conditions, transport infrastructure, distribution and organization of economic spaces, appropriate scale and level of economic development to ensure maximum promotion of economic development potential and advantages of all localities, supporting each other to promote the overall socio-economic development of the administrative units after the arrangement.
4. Geopolitical criteria:
Carefully consider factors regarding the qualifications and management capacity of local Party committees and authorities, the level of digital transformation, and the application of information technology by local authorities and people.
5. Criteria on national defense and security:
The arrangement of provincial-level administrative units must ensure national defense and security, especially building a solid defense zone in key areas, island areas, archipelagos and border areas.
The draft Resolution also sets out the principle of implementing the arrangement of the status quo of administrative units at the same level to form new administrative units.
In case of merging provinces with provinces, the new administrative units after the arrangement will be provinces; in case of merging provinces with centrally-run cities, the new unit after the arrangement will be centrally-run cities.
Based on the above orientation criteria, the Ministry of Home Affairs' submission stated that it is expected that the whole country will have 11 provincial-level administrative units remaining unchanged, including: Hanoi City, Hue City, Lai Chau, Dien Bien, Son La, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh.
The remaining 52 provincial-level administrative units subject to arrangement and merger include 4 cities: Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Can Tho and the remaining 48 provinces.
