The State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV) on July 27 worked online with the Governing Board of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) on water resources audit in the Mekong River, state media reported. The teleconference featured 12 members of the ASOSAI Governing Board, namely Vietnam, China, Japan, South Korea, India, Bangladesh, Kuwait, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Russia, and Thailand, along with Kazakhstan and Turkey – two members of the Audit Committee, and the Development Initiative of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI). Speaking at the teleconference, SAV General Auditor Ho Duc Phoc stated that the agency has been working with several countries on auditing the Mekong River’s water sources in the environmental auditing field to make recommendations on water quality assurance, and avoid any negative impacts on water and social security. Following these efforts, the SAV will preside over the implementation of ASOSAI’s cooperative environmental audit in Southeast Asia in the 2020-2021 period, thus aiming to manage water resources in the Mekong River basin in association with realizing sustainable development goals. The audit is scheduled to be held in the fourth quarter of 2020. Three SAIs comprising those from Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have confirmed their participation. It also received confirmation of technical assistance from the World Bank (WB) and the Canada Audit and Accountability Foundation (CAAF). For receiving supports from external organizations in the auditing process, Mr. Phoc affirmed that the SAIs, including Vietnam’s, always obey ASOSAI’s regulations to ensure independence during the auditing process. Representatives from SAIs expressed their support for Vietnam’s proposal at the meeting. Participants also reviewed the difficulties and challenges from emerging issues and shared outcomes and solutions ASOSAI members have successfully carried out in their home countries. (BNews, Vietnam Plus, en.Vietnam Plus, Tin Tuc, Bao Phap Luat, baokiemtoannhanuoc, Tien Phong)
