HÀ NỘI – President Trần Đại Quang received the heads of delegations to the 14th Assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI 14) in Hà Nội on Wednesday.

At the meeting, Auditor General of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) Hồ Đức Phớc reported to President Quang on ASOSAI 14’s agenda, adding that foreign delegates appreciated Việt Nam’s preparations for the assembly.

President Quang welcomed the delegations to Hà Nội for the event, which coincides with the 40th anniversary of the ASOSAI Charter.

He praised ASOSAI’s progress, saying it had developed from 11 initial members to 46 members over the last 40 years. It is one of several regional organisations to join the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI).

ASOSAI had always taken the lead in public audit and public governance and has contributed to the development of supreme audit institutions (SAIs) in the region and the world, President Quang said.

The President thanked ASOSAI for entrusting the SAV with hosting the assembly, and for awarding it the ASOSAI chairmanship for 2018-21.

President Quang said he appreciated the organisation’s assistance and valued the role of SAIs in the sustainable development of the region.

He added SAIs had a roll to play in supervising resource management, and can help improve budget use in member nations.

According to the State leader, the SAV has made major improvements to how Việt Nam handles public finance monitoring. Its legal status is clearly defined in the 2013 Constitution and is in line with the Lima Declaration of INTOSAI.

The SAV has helped the National Assembly supervise budget management.

President Quang also took the occasion to ask INTOSAI, ASOSAI and member agencies to enhance co-operation and work towards stable public finance practices. He asked them to promote sustainable development and boost environmental auditing initiatives.

He called on those in attendance to share their expertise – especially in training auditors – and to help the SAV in its role as the ASOSAI Chair.

The same day, Deputy Auditor General of the SAV Nguyễn Tuấn Anh received his Kazakh counterpart Talgat Zhakan.

Anh voiced his hope that Việt Nam and Kazakhstan would increase their collaboration on auditing practices.

Anh briefed his guest about the SAV’s structure and recent activities, saying it had performed well in auditing tasks assigned by the National Assembly.

The SAV had joined organisations such as INTOSAI, ASOSAI and the ASEAN Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI), Anh said. He added the SAV had also sent auditors abroad to study advanced auditing models at various SAIs.

Zhakan said the Accounts Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan was admitted to INTOSAI and ASOSAI in 2000 and became a member of the European Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions in 2003.

It had also co-operated with audit institutions in the Eurasian Economic Union, the Commonwealth of Independent States, the Shanghai Co-operation Organisation and the Economic Cooperation Organisation Supreme Audit Institutions, he said.

Zhakan said the Accounts Committee had already signed memoranda of understanding with many ASOSAI members and it hoped to ink a similar agreement with the SAV to improve the quality of both agencies.

He also expressed his hope the SAV would support his committee’s candidacy for a seat in the ASOSAI Audit Committee for the 2018-2021 term.

Anh pledged his support and recommend the Accounts Committee of Kazakhstan to the post in the vote at ASOSAI 14. – VNS