Enhancing the Quality of Coordination in a Proactive, Regular, Substantive and Effective Manner

Overview of the Conference

On the afternoon of September 25, the State Audit Office of Vietnam (SAV), in coordination with the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee/Son La Provincial Party Committee, the Standing People's Councils, and the People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province, solemnly held a conference to review the implementation of the coordination regulations between the SAV and the Standing People's Councils and People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province for the 2023–2026 period; sign new coordination regulations between the SAV and the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee/Son La Provincial Party Committee, the Standing People's Councils, and the People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province; and present the “For the Cause of State Audit” Commemorative Medals.

Attending the Conference were: Tran Duc Thang, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Head of the Hanoi National Assembly Delegation; Nguyen Thi Hong, Member of the Party Central Committee and Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly; and Phan Van Mai, Member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the National Assembly's Economic and Financial Committee.

Representing Hanoi were: Nguyen Trong Dong, Member of the Party Central Committee and Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Vu Dai Thang, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee; and Phung Thi Hong Ha, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee and Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Council.

Representing Son La Province were: Hoang Van Nghiem, Member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee; and Lo Minh Hung, Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Council.

Representing the SAV were Nguyen Huu Nghia, Member of the Party Central Committee, Member of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly Party Committee, Secretary of the SAV Party Committee and State Auditor General; and Deputy State Auditors General Bui Quoc Dung, Ha Thi My Dung, and Doan Anh Tho.

Also attending were leaders of the Hanoi Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee; members of the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and Son La Provincial Party Committee; leaders of departments, agencies and sectors of Hanoi and Son La Province; leaders of SAV-affiliated units; and leaders of SAV Region I.

Establishing a regular, responsible and increasingly substantive information-sharing mechanism

Reporting on the preliminary review of the implementation of the coordination regulations between the SAV and the Standing People's Councils and People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province, Nguyen Huu Phuc, State Auditor of SAV Region I, emphasized that after more than three years of implementation, the coordination regulations had established a regular, responsible and increasingly substantive mechanism for information exchange. The mechanism not only directly supported audit activities but also contributed to leadership, management, administration, and financial and budgetary oversight, while strengthening discipline and compliance in the management and use of public finances and public assets in the localities.

Politburo Member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Tran Duc Thang speaks at the Conference

Accordingly, each year, the SAV coordinates with the localities in conducting surveys, collecting information, identifying focal points and determining the contents needed for the development of audit plans. The Standing People's Councils and People's Committees of the two localities have directed departments, agencies and relevant units to provide information and documents, while also giving opinions on proposed audit entities.

During audit implementation, the SAV promptly informs the localities of audit plans and regularly exchanges information with local leaders on progress as well as difficulties and problems that arise, so that they can be addressed jointly.

Local leaders have directed focal agencies and audited entities to coordinate with audit teams, provide records and documents, and provide explanations on relevant matters.

Comments and feedback from local authorities during the drafting and approval of audit reports constitute an important source of practical information for the SAV to fully consider legal factors and the realities of local management and administration. This contributes to improving the accuracy, objectivity and feasibility of audit conclusions and recommendations.

Nguyen Huu Phuc, State Auditor of SAV Region I

The People's Councils and People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province have also directed and urged agencies and units to implement audit conclusions and recommendations, while coordinating with the SAV to address difficulties and problems that arise. This is a particularly important stage in addressing shortcomings and improving the effectiveness of public financial and public asset management.

Audit conclusions and recommendations are among the sources of information used by the People's Committees in budget formulation, administration and finalization, while also supporting the People's Councils in reviewing and deciding on budget estimates and allocations, approving budget final accounts, and performing their oversight functions.

State Auditor General Nguyen Huu Nghia speaks at the Conference

Expressing his pleasure at the results achieved in coordination between the SAV and the two localities, Hanoi Party Committee Secretary Tran Duc Thang highly appreciated the SAV's attention and support for Hanoi and Son La in strengthening financial discipline and compliance, improving the management of budgets, public investment and public assets, and enhancing management and administration to meet the requirements for rapid and sustainable development in each locality.

Son La Provincial Party Committee Secretary Hoang Van Nghiem affirmed that close coordination with the SAV helps the locality identify risks at an early stage and thoroughly address shortcomings in management and administration, while contributing to improving the capacity to foster development and implement tasks at every level and in every sector, particularly at the grassroots level.

In particular, according to Hoang Van Nghiem, in addition to exchanging and providing information for inspection, oversight, management and administration, the SAV's professional guidance and exchanges have contributed to raising the awareness and responsibility of agencies and units in complying with regulations on financial and asset management, practicing thrift, and preventing corruption, waste and other negative practices.

Strengthening the linkage between auditing and local leadership, direction, inspection, oversight and management

Despite the results achieved, the implementation of the coordination regulations over the past period still has several areas that need further improvement, particularly in maintaining regular exchanges, sharing information, and coordinating the monitoring of the implementation of audit recommendations. These are also issues that the relevant units need to pay greater attention to and coordinate more closely in the coming period.

Son La Provincial Party Committee Secretary Hoang Van Nghiem speaks at the Conference

Therefore, the signing of the new coordination regulations provides an important foundation for further strengthening and improving coordination in a more proactive, regular, substantive and effective manner, meeting the operational requirements of the State Audit Office of Vietnam and the management and administration requirements of each locality.

“This coordination is even more meaningful in the context of the restructuring of the local government model from three levels to two levels; the continued improvement of regulations on budget, financial and public asset management; and the increasing scale, nature and complexity of economic and financial activities. These developments require state management and audit activities to continue innovating and improving their quality and effectiveness,” emphasized State Auditor of SAV Region I Nguyen Huu Phuc.

According to local leaders, the signing of the new coordination regulations not only builds on the results already achieved but also elevates the coordination mechanism, particularly through the inclusion of the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and Son La Provincial Party Committee in the regulations. This creates a closer linkage between audit activities and the leadership, direction, inspection and oversight of Party committees, as well as the management and administration of local authorities.

Delegates attending the Conference

On the basis of the new coordination regulations, local leaders proposed that in the coming period, it would be necessary to strengthen the comprehensive and consistent leadership of the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and Son La Provincial Party Committee in implementing the coordination regulations; improve the quality of information exchange and coordination from the stage of developing audit plans; strengthen coordination in reviewing and improving mechanisms and policies; enhance the capacity of officials in public financial and public asset management; and improve the effectiveness of implementing audit recommendations.

In particular, local leaders proposed that the SAV increase its support for localities by auditing key works and projects, ensuring that public resources are used effectively and preventing corruption, losses and waste.

Delegates attending the Conference

We propose that the SAV support Hanoi by conducting audits in advance of a number of key projects, such as the seven urban railway lines currently being implemented by the City, projects being carried out under the build-transfer (BT) investment model, and various other public investment projects in transport and the environment. This would help ensure that the City's financial and land resources are used effectively and in accordance with regulations, while preventing the risk of losses and waste of State resources.

Tran Duc Thang, Politburo Member and Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee

Party committees and Party organizations at all levels need to closely link the implementation of audit conclusions and recommendations with the responsibility of heads to set an example and incorporate this into annual emulation assessment criteria. At the same time, responsibility should be firmly considered and addressed for organizations and individuals that delay or fail to remedy violations or allow violations to recur, in accordance with regulations.

Hoang Van Nghiem, Secretary of the Son La Provincial Party Committee

Strengthening capacity to prevent, detect and provide early warnings of risks and violations

Speaking at the Conference, State Auditor General Nguyen Huu Nghia emphasized that the event marked an important milestone, opening a new phase of cooperation and elevating the cooperative relationship between the SAV and Hanoi and Son La Province, particularly with coordination receiving direct and comprehensive leadership and direction from the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and Son La Provincial Party Committee and the SAV Party Committee.

State Auditor of SAV Region I Nguyen Huu Phuc presents the Report at the Conference

Expressing his appreciation for the close leadership, direction and coordination provided by the localities for audit activities in recent years, the State Auditor General also seriously acknowledged the comments of the Hanoi Party Committee Secretary during the implementation of the coordination regulations among the three agencies, as well as the recommendations made by the Hanoi Party Committee Secretary and Son La Provincial Party Committee Secretary to the SAV.

The State Auditor General said he would direct SAV advisory and support agencies, first and foremost SAV Region I, to coordinate with departments, agencies, People's Councils and People's Committees to implement these matters.

In upcoming audits, in addition to detecting violations, corruption, waste and other negative practices, the SAV will pay particular attention to issues involving recommendations on mechanisms and policies, especially new and specific mechanisms and policies applicable to Hanoi, the State Auditor General emphasized.

Leaders of the SAV sign the coordination regulations with the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee

Leaders of the SAV sign the coordination regulations with the Standing Committee of the Son La Provincial Party Committee

Pointing out the challenges facing localities in managing and using public finances, public assets and the state budget in the new context, the State Auditor General said that the SAV would innovate its audit methods toward strengthening its capacity to prevent, detect and provide early warnings of risks and potential violations, as well as to prevent and combat corruption and waste. At the same time, the SAV will shift toward data-based auditing and the application of technologies and digital platforms, thereby strengthening its monitoring and preventive capacity.

Through auditing, the SAV has identified a “gap” in implementation capacity and experience in managing public finances, public assets and the state budget. The SAV has designed a program that focuses directly on practical implementation at the grassroots level to address requirements for managing public finances and public assets at the commune and ward levels. In the coming period, I will direct specialized units to coordinate immediately with the Department of Finance to identify needs and organize training courses for Hanoi and Son La Province.

State Auditor General Nguyen Huu Nghia

The State Auditor General requested SAV Region I to truly serve as a bridge between the SAV and the two localities, maintain a firm grasp of the local situation, and closely coordinate with departments and sectors in advising the State Auditor General on implementing the following areas: auditing public investment projects, large-scale PPP projects, and key and complex projects; and auditing the implementation and enforcement of new policy mechanisms adopted by the localities. At the same time, the quality of coordination in developing audit plans from the outset should be improved to ensure that key contents, entities and priority risks are incorporated into audit plans.

“The SAV will always accompany, support and stand alongside Hanoi and Son La Province in pursuing the strategic objectives and aspirations for prosperous, civilized and happy development set out by the Party organizations of the two localities, first and foremost the goal of rapid and sustainable growth,” the State Auditor General affirmed.

At the Conference, representatives of the SAV leadership and the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and Son La Provincial Party Committee, together with representatives of the Standing People's Councils and People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province, signed the coordination regulations.

On this occasion, State Auditor General Nguyen Huu Nghia and the Deputy State Auditors General presented the “For the Cause of State Audit” Commemorative Medals to 17 outstanding leaders from the two localities in recognition of their positive contributions to the development of the SAV.

To meet requirements in the new situation, the new coordination regulations between the SAV and the Standing Committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and Son La Provincial Party Committee, the Standing People's Councils, and the People's Committees of Hanoi and Son La Province focus on the following key areas:

First, directly adding the Standing Committee of the Hanoi Party Committee and the Standing Committee of the Son La Provincial Party Committee to the coordination mechanism in the new period, thereby creating a closer linkage between audit activities and the leadership, direction, inspection and oversight of Party committees. This will enhance the effectiveness of implementing audit conclusions and recommendations and better promote the value of audit results in the management and use of public finances and public assets.

Second, maintaining and improving the quality of information exchange between the SAV and the Party committees, People's Councils and People's Committees of the two localities; strengthening information sharing on audit, inspection, examination and oversight plans to minimize duplication and overlap.

Third, organizing periodic exchanges and assessments of the implementation of the regulations, thereby promptly identifying difficulties and obstacles and agreeing on coordinated solutions to ensure that the regulations are implemented in a substantive and effective manner.

Fourth, strengthening the utilization, exchange and sharing of digital data for audit activities; gradually shifting from a coordination approach primarily based on the provision of records and documents to systematic coordination and data utilization, thereby improving the quality of analysis and assessment and shortening audit implementation time.

Fifth, continuing to improve the effectiveness of implementing audit conclusions and recommendations; linking the responsibilities of individual agencies and units to implementation progress; and promptly discussing and addressing recommendations that remain difficult or problematic, particularly those related to mechanisms and policies.

Sixth, strengthening coordination to identify emerging issues and inconsistencies between legal regulations and actual implementation in localities; jointly studying and proposing that competent authorities amend and supplement mechanisms and policies, ensuring both stronger discipline and compliance and the removal of bottlenecks to facilitate local development.