President Trần Đại Quang delivers speech at a working session with State Audit of Việt Nam leaders on Thursday. — VNA/VNS Photo Nhan Sáng

HÀ NỘI — President Trần Đại Quang has urged the State Audit of Việt Nam (SAV) to focus more on sectors and areas with high risks of corruption and cases of public concern to better advise agencies on policies and legal regulation to prevent corruption.

At a working session with SAV leaders on Thursday, the State leader suggested the agency pay attention to areas like land use, natural resources, mining, environment and capital construction.

The SAV should include programmes and projects using foreign loans in its annual auditing programmes, and advise the President, Government and ministries on how to effectively use foreign loans, he said.

Along with giving alerts on arising issues related to fiscal, financial, credit and banking policies, the agency should also consult the Party and State on major procurement and investment projects and annual budget estimates, said the President.

The leader also requested the State Audit speed up drafting documents guiding the implementation of the Law on State Audit 2015, and asked ministries and localities to work with the State Audit and help the agency.

President Quang urged the audit agency to expand international relations and successfully hold the 14th Congress of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) in 2018.

Last year, the State Audit conducted 276 audits and proposed financial corrections related to VNĐ38.3 trillion (US$1.68 billion), the highest figure in its 22 years of operation. It also recommended the adjustment, supplementation, replacement and withdrawal of 150 legal documents to prevent losses and wastefulness.

The agency helped re-evaluate State capital in seven enterprises and revise up the amount by VNĐ20.8 trillion ($917 million). Also, after examining 27 build-operate-transfer projects in the transportation sector, the State Audit proposed cutting the combined duration of toll collecting by 107 years.

This year, the agency will increase the use of advanced technology in its operation to improve working capacity and effectiveness.

It will also perform its role as a member of the ASOSAI Executive Board, while joining working groups of the International Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). — VNS