President Truong Tan Sang has urged Hanoi to extend the new rural model after the pilot model in Thuy Huong commune, Chuong My district, gained success.

President Sang gave the instruction at a conference in Hanoi on Dec. 19, to review the implementation of the new rural building programme in 2009-2011 period in Thuy Huong commune, one of 11 pilot models nationwide.

Participants at the event were told that almost three years after implementing the model, remarkable changes have been seen in Thuy Huong commune where people’s living conditions have been improved, solidarity among residents have been strengthened and social order and security maintained.

President Sang stressed that renewing rural communes requires planning and development of agricultural production, a focus on quality and cooperation with enterprises to find outlets for agricultural products in order to raise local incomes.

According to the Hanoi new rural building programme’s steering board, the pilot model in Thuy Huong commune completed 18 of 19 criteria. The remaining criteria on labour structure will be completed in 2012. Infrastructure and environmental hygiene saw improvement, development of production was good and the rate of poor households dropped to 4.2 percent from 14.19 percent in 2009. Per capita income reached 21 million VND (1,000 USD) a year, double that of 2009./.