Vietnam, Russia discuss anti-bribery in int’l business transactions

Hanoi (VNA) – Officials from Vietnam and Russia gathered in a workshop in Hanoi on March 28 to discuss combating bribery of foreign public officials in international business transactions.

The workshop was held by the Trade Representative of the Russia Federation in Vietnam and the Russian Centre for Science and Culture with officials from the Ministry of Public Security and the General Department of Vietnam Customs and Russian enterprises in attendance.

During the event, participants exchanged views on matters concerning anti-corruption and anti-bribery of foreign public officials in international business affairs.

Head of the Russian Trade Representative Viacheslav Nikolaevich Kharinov said Russia has been undertaking drastic measures to implement the 1997 Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) which took effect in 1999.

Countries that have signed the convention are committed to criminalising the act of bribing foreign public officials, he added, stressing the importance of coordination between state authority and enterprises in tackling corruption.

Russia and Vietnam has a long-standing relation, so that the two countries should shake hands in anti-corruption projects and strengthen economic ties based on trust and openness, he proposed.

Delegates to the event also gave an overview of the Anti-Corruption Law of Vietnam and its practice in combating corruption in import activities.-VNA