The figure was released at a January 13 conference in Hanoi to review the programme, which was attended by State President Truong Tan Sang, head of the programme’s steering committee.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Cao Duc Phat said the programme aims to build model rural areas in the context of industrialization and modernization.

Since it was launched in 2009, the 11 involved communes have got a facelift. In addition to improving people’s living conditions, Phat said the programme has upgraded infrastructure, promoted cultural preservation and socio-economic development, as well as increasing people's intellectual standard.

However, there remain problems even while implementing the programme, such as incomplete infrastructure and unspecified planning.

In order to achieve the target of the programme, Ca Van Panh, Chairman of Thanh Chan Commune People’s Committee in the northern mountain province of Dien Bien, proposed boosting communication to mobilize people’s resources.

(VOV)