Party General Secretary and State President Nguyễn Phú Trọng spoke at the anti-corruption steering committee meeting on Wednesday in Hà Nội. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — Party General Secretary and President Nguyễn Phú Trọng on Wednesday in Hà Nội chaired the standing committee of the Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption to review its work since the beginning of this year.

Party chief Trọng that despite COVID-19 pandemic, historic floods and storms in the central region, and organisations of local Party congresses ahead of the National Party Congress next year, the progress on cases under special supervision and instructing are still positive and in line with the schedule, especially those drawing high public attention and involving high-ranking members of the Party.

Corrupt asset recovery has shown positive progress, according to a report heard at the meeting, and since 2013, civil law enforcement agencies have recovered VNĐ22.659 trillion (US$974.9 million), accounting for 26.7 per cent of the value of the assets needed to be recovered.

In 2020 alone, justice agencies have either frozen assets or blocked transactions with a total value of approximately VNĐ3.851 trillion, US$16.858 million, 17.2 million shares, 51 pieces of real estate, five cars and other property; while corrupt assets worth VNĐ14 trillion have been recovered, 61 per cent of the total amount to be recovered.

The committee urged for expediting the initial trials into five high-profile corruption cases – including alleged violations of bidding regulations taking place at the Hà Nội Centre for Disease Control regarding the purchase of COVID-19 diagnostic machines, land management violations at State-run beverage company Sabeco, violations of public investment projects and abuse of power at PetroVietnam Biofuel company, mismanagement of State assets at Yên Khánh Production, Trading Service Limited Company – related to to the Việt Nam People’s Navy, and banking regulations offences at Đông Á Bank.

Party chief Trọng stressed that progress on cases on the supervision list of the committee should be ensured.

“Every case is challenging, so if it requires working day and night then so it will be. We already have experience with steps such as asset and property evaluation, crime assessment and corrupt asset recovery,” he said, urging for better co-ordination between the courts, public security units, procuracy and inspectors.

At the meeting, the committee agreed to end special supervision on 16 cases as they have been dealt with via legal processes.

The case involving violations on the use of State assets leading to losses and waste at Bình Dương Production and Import-Export Company (PROTRADE) was added to the supervision list, the committee announced.

For the upcoming national conference on anti-corruption efforts, Trọng said it’s important to point out the merits and weaknesses witnessed so far in the reports, and learn experience for the future.

“Achievements in the fight against corruption in recent times have generated confidence and uplifted morale among Party members and the country’s people, making positive contributions to socio-economic development and boosting national security, defence and foreign affairs relations,” he emphasised.

Trọng said the committee will expand its supervision to cases in more diverse fields – including foreign-invested projects, culture, education and health. — VNS