Vietnamese, Cambodian state audit agencies discuss cooperation

Hanoi (VNA) - State Auditor General of Vietnam Tran Sy Thanh held online talks with his Cambodian counterpart Som Kim Suor on August 6 to discuss bilateral cooperation between the two agencies.

At the meeting, the two sides agreed to jointly review and evaluate results of implementing the agreement on exchange and cooperation between the agencies signed in 2008. Based on the assessment, measures will be put forth to improve the quality and effectiveness for their collaboration bilaterally and multilaterally in the future.

Accordingly, they will increase delegation exchanges, discuss experiences and professional knowledge regarding matters of common interest, and step up human resources training.

Thanh took the occasion to thanks valuable support of the Cambodian National Audit Authority for the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) at bilateral and multilateral collaboration forums. He lauded the Cambodian side’s active contributions as a pillar in the triangle cooperation among Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.

Speaking highly of effective joint works between the sides in the past time, he hoped to foster the ties toward effectiveness and practical outcomes in line with current demand.

Som Kim Suor expressed her gratitude for the assistance from the SAV and the Vietnamese people for Cambodia so far, particularly amid COVID-19.

A cooperation agreement between the two agencies is expected to be signed in June 2022 on the occasion of the 55th anniversary of Vietnam – Cambodia diplomatic relations.

The SAV is serving as Chair of the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI) Strategic Planning Committee and Chair of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) in the 2018 - 2021 term.

The ASOSAI was founded in 1979 and pursues a mission common among working groups of the International Organisations of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), that “Professional supreme audit institutions promote good State governance”, and with the core values of “Professionalism, Cooperation, Equality, Creativity”.

Its goal is to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among member SAIs through the exchange of ideas and experience in public auditing, creating the conditions necessary for the training of State auditors to improve working quality and efficiency.

The SAV became a member of ASOSAI in 1997. In its initial period of membership, it primarily sent auditors to attend training courses and workshops sponsored by the ASOSAI, to enhance professional capacity. Since 2010, the SAV has undertaken a more active role in the association’s professional activities.

The SAV, as Chair of ASOSAI in the 2018 - 2021 term, has carried out a lot of important and effective audit activities which have gained praise from regional and international audit agencies.

Besides, it has also actively and responsibly participated in activities of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI) as a representative of its Regional Working Group.

In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency earlier this year, then Auditor General Ho Duc Phoc said the SAV will continue promoting the sharing of experience and training among state audit institutes (SAIs), which is the top priority ASOSAI during its final year as ASOSAI Chair in 2021.

The move aims to help SAIs make a timely response to constant changes in the public financial management environment, he noted.

The SAV is currently working with the ASOSAI’s Capacity Development Committee (the Board of Audit of Japan) and its committees and working groups to share knowledge and good practice and bolster the role of the ASOSAI in supporting its members amid the COVID-19 pandemic, to build an organisation with professional and dynamic SAIs that are able to respond to challenges and emerging issues in the region and the world.

Regarding the audit of water resources in the Mekong River basin, Vietnam continued working with international experts to provide training and set up audit plans for SAIs in January - February. The SAIs will conduct independent audits in coordination with the SAV and with instructions from experts.

In the fourth quarter, the SAV will chair an international conference to share the results of the audit as well as good practice in environmental audits and the sustainable development goals, according to Phoc./.