The northern province of Quang Ninh has invested over 31.7 trillion VND (1.51 billion USD) in infrastructure and socio-economic development for 115 rural communes over the past four years under the new-style rural areas building programme.

Dang Huy Hau, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said the investment has helped bring the local poverty rate from 7.68 percent in 2010 to an estimated 1.77 percent this year through developing new farming and animal breeding models.

Several large-scale cultivation and husbandry areas have been formed and gradually built their own goods brands, such as Quang Yen safe vegetable, Hoanh Bo flower, Duong Hoa tea, Co To squids, Tan An egg and Ha Long fried squid pie.

The Vice Chairman underlined the four pillars of Quang Ninh’s rural development programme, which are raising farmers’ income, improving the living environment, enhancing infrastructure and developing the cultural life.

The province aims to have 10 out of 13 districts, cities and 82 out of 115 communes basically meet the new-style rural area criteria.

The national target programme, launched in 2010, defines 19 criteria for standard new-style rural areas, including measures to build infrastructure, improve production capacity, build public facilities, protect the landscape and environment, and promote local traditions and cultural identities.-VNA