(VOVworld) – The national steering committee for new rural development met on Tuesday to review the implementation of the program over the past 5 years and discuss plans for the future through 2020. Delegates agreed that the program has improved the living standard in many rural areas, boosted production, and increased farmers’ incomes.

National Assembly chairman Nguyen Sinh Hung said that the National Assembly will continue to cooperate with the government and local administration in building up new rural areas. He called for more concrete measures to achieve the target of half of communities nationwide reaching new rural criteria by 2020.

In his address Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said new rural development is an important political task: “It is necessary to increase awareness of the political system at the central and local level on new rural development. This program is intended to turn Vietnam into an industrial nation. Life in many rural areas has improved significantly.”

A number of communities were honored at the meeting for their outstanding achievements in new rural development.