The final round of competition of Vietnam Anti-Corruption Initiative, VACI 2011 was launched on August 16 by the Government Inspectorate and the World Bank (WB) in Hanoi.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the final round, Deputy Chief Inspector Tran Duc Luong said success in the battle against corruption would require great efforts from State agencies and positive support and involvement of the entire society.

VACI 2011 aimed to raise public awareness of anti-corruption law and bring into play the role and responsibility of the people, agencies, organisations, units and public employees in combating corruption, he said.

The programme was expected to enhance cooperative relations between Vietnam and the international community in anti-corruption activities and aimed to reflect Vietnam’s responsibility as a member of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, he added.

World Bank Country Director in Vietnam Victoria Kwakwa affirmed that VACI 2011 was the results of cooperation between Vietnam and the WB in combating corruption.

The involvement of organisations and individuals in VACI 2011 proved that the fight against corruption in Vietnam had received attention and the participation of the social community, she said.

She said she hoped VACI 2011 would give fresh impetus to the Vietnamese Government in combating corruption more effectively.

The programme, themed “Strengthening public integrity and law implementation for effective anti-corruption” was officially launched on December 9, 2010. It included an innovation competition and knowledge exchange in order to formulate and assist innovative ideas on the issue.

VACI 2011 was jointly sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the UK Department for International Development, and the embassies of Belgium, Canada, Finland and Sweden./.