He suggests that the central government transfer more civil servants working in the south to the north to help the region open up to the idea of making market economy reforms, which will unavoidably help move the cheese of vested interests. Unless a rule-of-law business environment is created it will be difficult for the north to attract more investment than the south.

Experts say that development is a comprehensive concept that should take into account more factors than GDP alone. It should also factor in per capita GDP, and public services, environmental quality, etc. So GDP does not reflect some of the advantages that the north has or its development potential. Compared with the south, the north is not weaker when it comes to universities, institutes, natural environment, public services, natural resources, as well as some manufacturing industries.

Feng Kui, a researcher at the China Center for Urban Development, said the small towns and villages that have been hollowed out by the development of megacities in the south are the other side of the prosperity that must catch the policymakers' attention. "A city cluster can develop around a central city, but that does not mean satellite towns and villages can be sacrificed for the development of the central city," Feng said.

He thinks the north is indispensable to the country's ecological security, energy security and food security.