Vietnam and Russia signed a Memorandum of Understanding on corruption prevention efforts in Hanoi on September 23, which is expected to further the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The MoU was signed by Inspector General of the Vietnamese Government Inspectorate Huynh Phong Tranh and Head of the Anti-Corruption Department of Russia’s Presidential Executive Office Plokhoi Oleg Anatolevich, who is on a working visit to Vietnam .

According to the document, the two agencies will work together to train officials, run awareness-raising campaigns, encourage public involvement in the fight against corruption, and consult on relevant issues featured in international forums, primarily the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

During their talks, the two officials expressed their belief that the signing of the MoU would enhance the friendship and cooperation between the two agencies and the two nations in general, benefitting both sides and contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and beyond.

They presented the functions and organisational structures of their respective agencies, and shared their experience in tackling corruption in a joint effort to realise the cooperation targets stated in the signed document.

The guest is scheduled to meet with officials from the departments of internal affairs in Quang Ninh and Khanh Hoa provinces and Ho Chi Minh City from September 23-28.

In 2013, Vietnamese inspectors unveiled 45 corruption cases, involving 99 suspects and 354 billion VND. More than 229 billion VND was reclaimed, while 10 organisations and 104 individuals were fined for their crimes.-VNA