Hanoi (VNA) – As many as 604 outof total 1,424 communes, or 42.4 percent, in the south central coastal andCentral Highlands regions have been recognised as new-style rural areas,according to the Central Coordination Office on New Rural Development.
The south central coastal region counted eightdistricts gaining the status, while the Central Highlands had one.
The two regions strive to have 126 communesmeeting advanced criteria for new-style rural areas by the end of 2020.
Currently, 27 districts in the nine southcentral coastal provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, NinhThuan, Dak Lak, Dak Nong, Gia Lai and Kon Tum have not had any communes fulfillingnew rural areas criteria.
Meanwhile, in the Central Highlands, the rate ofnew rural communes in Dak Lak and Dak Nong is below 30 percent; and Kon Tumunder 20 percent.
The progress of developing rural areas in NinhThuan, Binh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Quang Ngai, Kon Tum, and Dak Lak provinces hasbeen sluggish.
These localities should use their naturalresources to support the building of new-style rural areas, according to thecentral coordination office./.