Deputy Prime Minister requests to build criteria for model new rural communes and districts

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the conference. Photo: VGP/Thanh Chung

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue, Head of the Steering Committee for National Target Programs for the 2016-2020 period, chaired the National Conference on implementing the construction of model new rural residential areas and model gardens on the morning of April 15 in Ha Tinh city.

New rural areas are not the final destination

At the conference, all ministries, branches, localities, socio-political organizations, and professional associations agreed that new rural construction has no end point, and needs to be directed towards building new rural areas according to models, first of all, building model new rural residential areas and model gardens are good, creative ways, suitable to the characteristics of each region.

In fact, since 4 years ago, many localities have implemented the construction of new rural model with many different models such as model residential areas, model gardens in Ha Tinh and Quang Ninh, Quang Nam (cultural clan model), Dong Nai (green, clean and beautiful residential area model), Thai Nguyen (model rural cultural hamlet), Hai Duong building new rural model for the goal of ensuring social security, Nam Dinh (model residential area),...

The Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front said that building a model new rural area is a new direction in nature after some localities have reached the new rural area finish line, and there is confusion in determining the goals, tasks, and directions for implementation in the next phase.

According to the Ministry of Construction, many communes have correctly followed the steps of establishing, appraising, submitting, approving and implementing new rural planning and have done so successfully.

However, the Ministry said that the current situation of planning for new rural construction associated with model residential areas and model gardens has not received due attention, specifically: Concentrated rural residential areas are still fragmented, not favorable for mechanized farming, not beneficial for infrastructure investment and creating favorable conditions for developing production and services in rural areas.

Natural conditions are also factors affecting the planning of model residential areas and model gardens, such as some villages in the northern mountainous region where people live in a scattered manner and are divided by mountainous terrain.

The Ministry of Construction recommends that planning orientation for the construction of model residential areas and model gardens should be implemented right from the stage of making a general plan for the construction of new rural communes, preserving natural landscapes, protecting rivers, lakes, and streams in the planning area as well as historical relics that have been ranked and need to be protected and prevented from encroachment; investigating and surveying natural conditions carefully, finding the advantages or benefits due to the natural conditions of the planning area.

Regarding the model garden, Professor Nguyen The Dan, Chairman of the Vietnam Gardening Association, assessed Ha Tinh as a typical example in effectively implementing the garden-pond-cage model, bringing benefits to the people and especially creating a beautiful, livable landscape.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue acknowledged that the creativity in building new rural areas of localities will be an important factor contributing to improving the efficiency, quality and sustainable value of building new rural areas in the coming time.

Clarifying the meaning of "model new residential area"

Overview of the conference. Photo: VGP/Thanh Chung

Directing at the conference, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue emphasized that building new rural areas is a regular and continuous process. The construction of model new rural residential areas and model gardens will create an important foundation for building model new rural communes and model new rural districts, in which the core is to significantly improve the material and spiritual life of rural people.

To organize the implementation of building model new rural areas and model new rural residential areas nationwide, the Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries and branches to clearly define the content and clarify the connotation of model new rural residential areas.

“Is the new rural model an additional criterion in the new rural criteria set or is it the concretization of the criteria set in people's lives?”, Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In addition, the Head of the Steering Committee for National Target Programs said that ministries and localities need to clarify the concepts of "model new rural residential areas", "model new rural villages", etc. so that the Government's policies can be put into practice; connecting new rural construction with agricultural restructuring, rural economic development and urbanization; researching and developing new rural models, model gardens associated with experiential tourism (Homestay); promoting production linkages, attaching importance to supporting new cooperative models, connecting with businesses and markets.

Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue was impressed with the way people in Tuong Son commune, Thach Ha district classify waste and protect the environment, contributing to building a model new rural area. Photo: VGP/Thanh Chung

The Deputy Prime Minister assigned the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to preside over and coordinate with ministries and branches to summarize, evaluate, and draw experiences to build criteria for model new rural communes and districts, in which model new residential areas and model gardens are the core contents, and at the same time organize implementation and replication nationwide.

In addition, authorities at all levels need to closely coordinate with the Fatherland Front and socio-political organizations to propagate, mobilize and organize people to participate in building new rural areas. Absolutely do not mobilize people beyond their capacity for achievements. People must be truly voluntary and join hands to contribute to building model new rural areas.