Vietnam, Malaysia eye stronger audit cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) -  Vietnamese State Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc and Deputy Auditor General of Malaysia Khalid Khan have discussed ways to enhance cooperation and develop information technology in the audit sector.

At a working session in Hanoi on March 20, Phoc said the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV) conducted over 200 audits relating to the management and use of public financial resources and assets each year.

The SAV is focusing on IT development to serve the audit work, with an IT development strategy until 2030 being devised, he said, adding that the agency wants to learn from the NAD’s experience to build the IT development strategy.

Applauding Malaysia’s National Audit Department (NAD)’s support and sharing of experience, Phoc suggested the two agencies step up cooperation in training and exchange of professional experience, especially in operation and IT audits.

Mentioning the 14th Assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI 14) slated for September 2018 in Vietnam, Phoc informed his guest about Vietnam’s preparations for the event and called on the NAD in its capacity as ASOSAI 13 Chair to assist Vietnam in organising the meeting.

For his part, Khalid Khan noted with pleasure the partnership between the NAD and the SAV, expressing his hope that the bilateral cooperation will be enhanced in the time ahead.

The NAD will increase support to and cooperation with the SAV, he pledged, saying he believes that the collaboration will benefit both sides.

The NAD will also do its utmost to help its Vietnamese counterpart to successfully host ASOSAI 14 and assume the post of the ASOSAI Chair during 2018-2021, he promised.

The same day, Khalid Khan had a working session with Vietnamese Deputy Auditor General Doan Xuan Tien to discuss Vietnam’s preparations for ASOSAI 14.

Looking into the meeting’s agenda, they agreed that major events will take place from September 19-22, with the opening ceremony scheduled for September 19.

The Hanoi Declaration is expected to be part of the meeting’s programme. As the official document of ASOSAI 14, the declaration will deliver the assembly’s important messages as well as commitments and actions of ASOSAI to the region and the world in the audit sphere.

Apart from reflecting the commitment to completing the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) and handling challenges to the global environment, the document stresses the materialisation of the ASOSAI strategic plan for 2016-2021.

On this occasion, the NAD shared its experience in organising symposiums.

The two sides are scheduled to deliberate technical matters and the celebration of 40 years of the ASOSAI Charter on March 21.-VNA