In the northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen, 8 more communes fulfilled the 19 criteria for new-style rural areas within the first six months of this year, bringing the total number of communes recognised as new-style rural areas to 20.

According to the provincial Coordination Office for the new-style rural area building programme, 31 communes meet 15-18 of the criteria, while 50 communes meet 10-14 requirements.

The programme has contributed substantially to socio-economic development in remote areas in particular and the locality’s development in general.

According to Hoang Cuong Quoc, the head of the office, local authorities have mobilised capital from different sources for implementation, focusing on developing infrastructure improvement projects and production models in rural zones, and helping increase incomes and improve living standards for rural residents.
Additionally, the province paid special attention to meeting the criteria on education, healthcare, culture and environmental protection.

Thai Nguyen hopes to see another 17 communes meet all 19 criteria in 2015.

In order to achieve this goal, the locality will promote the implementation of production projects in rural areas in accordance with the province’s agricultural restructuring plan, with an emphasis placed on the production of goods, the development of cooperatives and farmhouse models, and the improvement of the local environment.

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas, initiated by the Vietnamese Government in 2010, includes 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics and defence, with the objective of boosting Vietnam’s rural regions.

The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacities, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values.

The country aims for 20 percent and 50 percent of all communes nationwide to fulfill the requirements by the end of 2015 and 2020, respectively.-VNA