Vietnam attends 8th ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions Summit in Singapore

At the summit, the Vietnamese delegation presented ASEANSAI Strategic Plan for 2026–2029; the 2025 annual performance report of ASEANSAI’s committees and Secretariat, and the committee’s 2026–2027 work plan, which are seen as instrumental in advancing ASEANSAI’s strategic development orientations for the new term.

Deputy Auditor General of Vietnam Doan Anh Tho (Photo: VNA)
Deputy Auditor General of Vietnam Doan Anh Tho (Photo: VNA)

Singapore (VNA) – A delegation from the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) led by its Deputy Auditor General Doan Anh Tho attended the 8th ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI) Summit in Singapore on November 13.

The SAV reaffirmed its active role in regional cooperation, particularly as Chair of the ASEANSAI Strategic Planning Committee. At the summit, the Vietnamese delegation presented ASEANSAI Strategic Plan for 2026–2029, the 2025 annual performance report of ASEANSAI’s committees and Secretariat, and the committee’s 2026–2027 work plan, which are seen as instrumental in advancing ASEANSAI’s strategic development orientations for the new term.

Deputy Auditor General Tho, in his speech, noted that after nearly 15 years of effective cooperation and steady expansion, ASEANSAI has solidified its standing as a trusted, dynamic, and unified forum for member SAIs. Thanks to continuous efforts to build capacity, step up knowledge sharing, and contribute to public governance across the region, ASEANSAI has created lasting value and a strong foundation for its next strategic phase.

In rapidly changing global and regional landscapes, marked by technological advances, the emergence of new audit areas, and increasing demand for international cooperation, the ASEANSAI Strategic Plan for 2026–2029 is designed to help member SAIs adapt flexibly, innovate, and pursue sustainable development. The plan, he stressed, embodies a shared commitment to overcoming challenges, seizing opportunities, and comprehensively bolstering joint capabilities.

The summit discussed and approved a number of major items, including the 2025 ASEANSAI annual report, the 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, the fifth revision of the ASEANSAI rules and procedures, documents and competency frameworks developed by the ASEANSAI Training Committee; work plans of ASEANSAI committees for 2026–2027, operating budget for 2026–2027, and a report on coordination meetings with development partners.

Delegates also completed the appointment of the new ASEANSAI Chair and Vice Chair, and formalised the handover of the Chairmanship. Singapore’s SAI was elected as Chair, while Thailand’s SAI was named Vice Chair for the 2026–2027 term. They additionally approved Myanmar’s SAI as the ASEANSAI Auditor for the 2024 and 2025 financial statements.

On the sidelines, the SAV delegation held bilateral meetings with the SAIs of Singapore and Sweden. They pledged mutual support at both bilateral and multilateral forums, and the exchange of technical knowledge, practical expertise, and modern audit practices. These mark an important step toward improving public-sector audit capability, increasing transparency and efficiency in public financial management, and strengthening the SAIs’ role in effective national governance, ultimately supporting sustainable regional audit development.

ASEANSAI was founded in November 2011 in Bali, Indonesia, and its biennial summit is hosted by the incoming chair./.

VNA

See more

At the NA Standing Committee's session on August 4. (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Standing Committee to look into 25 draft laws, resolutions

The committee will take up 25 draft laws and resolutions, including the revised Penal Code, the revised Law on Organisation of Criminal Investigation Agencies, and the review of the draft law amending Article 6 and Appendix IV on conditional business sectors and lines under the Law on Investment, among others.

ASEAN ambassadors in Beijing and the Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre pose for a group photo. (Photo:VNA)

Vietnam underscores ASEAN unity, centrality

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh highlighted ASEAN’s ability to listen to one another, respect diversity, manage differences and build consensus as among the key lessons underpinning the bloc’s strength and enabling it to move forward together.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (L) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader’s New Zealand visit draws media attention

Reports, articles and assessments published on August 12-13 highlighted that Vietnam-New Zealand relations are shifting strongly from high-level political commitments to concrete cooperation programmes, with a focus on trade, investment, education, agriculture, science and technology, defence and security, and climate change response.

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

☕ Afternoon briefing on August 13

Activities during Party General Secretary and President To Lam's state visit to New Zealand, a ceremony marking the 100th birth anniversary of Cuban leader Fidel Castro in Quang Tri, and a series of expos opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre are among news highlights on August 13.

Party General Secretary and President To Lam leaves Auckland on August 13 evening (local time), concluding a state visit to New Zealand. (Photo: VNA)

Party General Secretary, President To Lam concludes state visit to New Zealand

At the meetings during the visit, the two sides agreed to further strengthen political trust and advance bilateral relations comprehensively by stepping up high-level and all-level exchanges through Party, State, parliamentary and people-to-people channels, thereby making more effective use of existing policy dialogue mechanisms.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam (R) meets with Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader meets with New Zealand House Speaker

Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives Gerry Brownlee welcomed the state visit by the Vietnamese leader and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, stressing that it will further deepen the Vietnam–New Zealand Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across various fields, ushering bilateral ties into a new, more profound, substantive and effective phase.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon witness the exchange of cooperation agreements between the two countries on August 13, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam - New Zealand joint statement

Vietnam and New Zealand have issued a joint statement on the occasion of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam’s state visit to New Zealand from August 12-13.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam (left) and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon at their talks in Auckland on August 13 (Photo: VNA)

Top Vietnamese leader holds talks with New Zealand Prime Minister

Welcoming General Secretary and President Lam and the Vietnamese delegation, New Zealand PM Luxon said the visit marked an important milestone in strengthening bilateral ties after more than half a century. He affirmed Vietnam is an important partner of New Zealand and expressed his impression at the Southeast Asian country’s remarkable achievements, including its strong economic growth.

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

☀️ Morning digest on August 13

Party General Secretary and President To Lam's meeting with Vietnamese Embassy staff and representatives of the Vietnamese community in New Zealand, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung's receptions for the Singaporean and Israeli ambassadors, and the 8th Vietnam–Australia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting are among news highlights on August 12 evening.

Delegates at the meeting (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam, US enhance cooperation in education - training

Affirming that Vietnam regards the US as one of its top strategic partners, Vice President of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh said Vietnam wishes to further advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with the US in a substantive and in-depth manner on the basis of respect for each other’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and political systems.