HÀ NỘI – The 48th session of the National Assembly Standing Committee opened yesterday. The session will discuss the implementation of the national target programme to build new-style rural areas, as well as policies and laws concerning scientific and technological development during the 2010-15 period.

According to an inspection report about the implementation of the programme to build new-style rural areas connected with agricultural restructuring, the programme was widely implemented across the country, with positive results. The Chairman of the NA Economic Committee, Nguyễn Văn Giàu, presented the inspection report.

Rural areas witnessed many positive changes, including improvements in rural transport, infrastructure systems, and living conditions.

More than 1,760 communes nationwide - almost 20 per cent of all communes - were recognised as new-style rural areas, under the programme.

As many as 22,500 agro-forestry-fishery production models are now active across the country.

About 2,500 large-scale field models were set up in localities covering 556,000 hectares. Many production chain models were formed in husbandry, aquaculture and forestry industries.

But deputies say there are still shortcomings in implementing the programme. Many localities only focused on developing infrastructure for rural areas. But they paid less attention to production development in connection with agricultural restructuring and with protecting the environment in rural areas.

Some deputies pointed to the need to focus on human resource development in rural areas. There is a need for providing vocational training for farmers, as well as employment programmes for farmers after receiving vocational training.

Many deputies stressed that in building new-style rural areas, it is important to pay attention to maintaining the results achieved in communes recognised as new-style rural areas, so as to ensure sustainable development.

Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ shares this view. He said there should be standards and orientation for those communes recognised as new-style rural areas to continue striving to sustain their achievements.

NA Vice Chairman Phùng Quốc Hiển said the report initially reflected the practical results of the implementation of the programme to build new-style rural areas. But based on lawmakers’ opinions, more study is needed to complete the report to submit to the NA Standing Committee for consideration in September, before submitting the final report to the NA in October.

Later that day, the deputies also discussed a report on inspection results concerning the implementation of policies and laws on scientific and technological development to boost the country’s industrialization and modernisation during the 2010-15 periods. Future development orientation, focusing on the development of supporting industry and machinery manufacturing, was also discussed.

Many deputies stressed that scientific and technological development and renovation must become a national policy and an impetus for economic development by 2020.

Regarding promoting development of the supporting industry and machinery manufacturing, some deputies said it is essential to review the linkage between small- and medium-sized businesses and key businesses - and essential to map out development planning for some key mechanic sectors.

Deputies also discussed issues relating to policies and mechanisms for scientific and technological development, contribution of science and technology in boosting growth quality, scientific research tasks, human resource development for the science and technology sector, and markets for this sector.

Discussion also focused on future development orientation for science and technology, in the context of international integration, now that Việt Nam has signed so many free trade agreements. The role of the mechanical industry and of supporting industry was also an important focus of the discussions. - VNS