Seamless New Rural Development

- On December 29, 2025, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 51 promulgating the national criteria for new rural areas (NRA) for the period 2026-2030. This decision takes effect from February 15, 2026. To better understand the new points in the criteria and the implementation solutions, reporters from Lang Son Newspaper and Radio and Television interviewed Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment.

Construction of rural roads in Hong Phong commune.

Reporter: Could you please tell us what new features the National Criteria for New Rural Development for the period 2026-2030 has compared to previous periods?

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien: The national criteria for new rural communes in the 2026-2030 period have many new points compared to the previous period. Specifically: in the 2026-2030 period, the central government only stipulates one set of criteria and a pilot framework for building modern new rural communes (in the 2021-2025 period, the central government stipulated the issuance of three sets of criteria for new rural communes, advanced new rural communes, and model new rural communes).

Furthermore, the criteria for new rural communes in this phase only stipulate 10 criteria and 47 indicators (in the previous phase, new rural communes had 19 criteria and 57 indicators; advanced new rural communes had 19 criteria and 75 indicators; and model new rural communes had 4 criteria) and are applied according to 3 groups of communes (group 1, group 2, and group 3) to suit the rearrangement and reorganization of commune-level administrative units and the development level of the communes. This is a breakthrough aimed at changing the previous approach of "one set of criteria for all communes" to create flexibility, practicality, and improve feasibility in implementation.

“The requirements for new rural development criteria in this phase are also higher than in the previous phase and include additional content that aligns with the country's socio -economic development orientation in the new phase, such as: strengthening criteria related to the application of information technology in management and administration; promoting the development of digital infrastructure and the digital economy in rural areas; focusing on criteria related to environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, promoting gender equality, and community development associated with cultural preservation.”

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment

At the same time, the requirements for new rural development criteria in this phase are also higher than in the previous phase and include additional content consistent with the country's socio-economic development orientation in the new phase, such as: strengthening criteria related to the application of information technology in management and administration; promoting the development of digital infrastructure and the digital economy in rural areas; focusing on criteria related to environmental protection, adaptation to climate change, promoting gender equality, and community development associated with cultural preservation.

Reporter: According to regulations, after the decision takes effect, ministries, departments, and localities will continue to provide specific guidance for implementation. Could you please tell us what work the province has been and is currently undertaking to implement the criteria set out in the above decision?

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien: Prime Minister 's Decision No. 51 assigns the following task to the People's Committees of the provinces: "Based on the guidance of relevant ministries and central agencies regarding the criteria of the National Criteria Set for New Rural Communes in the 2026-2030 period, concretize the application of criteria to suit the actual conditions and socio-economic development needs of the locality." Currently, the province has directed communes to conduct a review to identify the groups of communes applying the National Criteria Set for New Rural Communes in the 2026-2030 period. In the future, based on the guidance of ministries and agencies, the Department of Agriculture and Environment (the agency in charge of implementing the program) will advise the Provincial People's Committee to issue specific regulations on the Criteria Set for the groups of communes in accordance with the actual conditions.

Reporter: While awaiting guidance from ministries and departments, how has the Department of Agriculture and Environment advised the province on directing the implementation of the New Rural Development program to ensure a seamless process?

Mr. Nguyen Huu Chien: While awaiting guidance from ministries and agencies, to ensure the seamless and uninterrupted implementation of the New Rural Development program, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has advised the Provincial People's Committee and the Provincial Steering Committee to focus on directing communes to maintain the criteria already achieved according to the National Criteria for New Rural Development in the 2021-2025 period; at the same time, based on the National Criteria for New Rural Development in the 2026-2030 period, proactively review the criteria with clear requirements and content to develop implementation plans suitable to the local conditions; conduct a review and register plans to strive for achieving New Rural Development standards for the 2026-2030 period and for 2026 to focus on directing the completion of targets and tasks for New Rural Development in the 2026-2030 period as directed by the central government and the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress.

Reporter: Thank you very much, sir!

Source: https://baolangson.vn/khong-de-gian-doan-xay-dung-nong-thon-moi-5077598.html