PM urges knowledge-based new-style rural building

Speaking at a teleconference on new-style rural area building in Hanoi on September 30, the PM cited processing machines made by farmers to clarify his view.

To carry out the new-style rural building programme in the next five years, ministries, agencies and localities should enable rural residents to access information and science-technology with heed paid to the number of internet users and businesses in rural areas, and e-commerce.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at the teleconference. Photo: VNA

New-style rural construction should be combined with rural economic transfer, suitable urbanisation, civilised urban area building, environmental protection and fresh water supply, especially in localities hard hit by climate change, he said, urging localities to continue diversifying capital resources for the work.

The Government leader described new-style rural area building as a revolution and a political task that requires all-level Party Committees and authorities to raise their responsibility.

A report released by the Central Steering Committee for National Target Programmes in the 2016-2020 period shows that as of mid-September, the country had 2,045 new-style rural communes or 23 percent of communes nationwide. The figure is expected to hit 50 percent by 2020.

During the 2011-2015 period, more than 850 trillion VND (38.25 billion USD) was mobilised for the programme, of which only 11.6 percent came from the State budget. The programme is expected to need over 193 trillion VND (8.7 billion USD) in the next five years.

To fulfill the target set by 2020, the committee suggested focusing on essential infrastructure, promoting production in combination with agricultural restructuring, protecting the environment and ensuring safety and security in rural areas.

On this occasion, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc launched a nationwide emulation campaign on new-style rural area building for 2016-2020.