Hanoi (VNA) – The hosting of the14th Assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme AuditInstitutions (ASOSAI) in September 2018 marks a milestone in the 24-yearhistory of the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV).

On January 24, 1995,the Prime Miister issued Decision 61/TTg on regulations on the organisation andoperation of the SAV. This is the first legal foundation for the country’sState audit agency, meeting the requirements of the cause of Doi Moi (renewal) andbuilding a law-governed socialist State.

Ever since, the SAV’sdevelopment has been closely associated with the country’s political, economicand social events.

On June 14, 2005,the National Assembly passed the Law on State Audit, which took effect onJanuary 1, 2006, opening up a new stage of development for the SAV.

On November 28,2013, the 8th National Assembly adopted the Constitution of the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam, which became effective on January 1, 2014, with Article118 stipulating the legal status of the SAV as an organ “established by theNational Assembly, operate independently, abide only by the law, and audit themanagement and use of public finance and assets.” The constitution also stipulatesthe role and responsibility of the head of the State Audit Office.

With this landmark,the role of the SAV was elevated to a constitutional body, thus enhancing itsposition, role and responsibility in auditing the management and use of publicfinance and assets.

Besides, on April19, 2010, the National Assembly Standing Committee adopted Resolution927/2010/UBTVQH12 issuing a strategy for the development of the SAV to 2020.The strategy defines the core value of the SAV as “Transparency-Quality-Effectivenessand Constantly Improving Value.”

The implementationof the strategy has contributed greatly to increasing the efficiency,professionalism and effectiveness of the SAV’s operation, catching up with thetrend of supreme audit organisations in the world.

As part of effortsto implement the strategy, and based on the Constitution’s stipulation, the SAVcoordinated with relevant agencies to research and propose revisions to the Lawon State Audit and related laws.

On June 24, 2015,the 13th National Assembly passed the revised Law on State Audit atits 9th session, creating a complete and uniform legal corridor forthe organisation and operation of the SAV.

Over the past years,the SAV has fulfilled its assigned political tasks through actively reformingauditing methods and working style, improving the quality of auditing planningand quality control. It has paid attention to develop all three types of audits:financial audit, compliance audit and operational audit. The SAV also promotedboth general and specialized audits, along with auditing both local and State budgetbalance.

According to AuditorGeneral Ho Duc Phoc, audits conducted by the SAV have provided information forthe National Assembly in considering and approving State budget balance and decidingState budget estimates, as well as helping People’s Councils at all level insupervising and approving local budget balance, assisting ministries andagencies in enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of the management anduse of public finance and assets.

The Auditor Generalsaid with its elevated legal status, the SAV has been able to enhance its prestigein the international arena, as demonstrated in the SAV’s hosting of the ASOSAI’s 14th Assembly in 2018 and assuming the chair of ASOSAI during 2018-2021.-VNA