Deputy Auditor General in charge of the State Audit Office of Viet Nam Ngo Van Tuan held a courtesy meeting with the President of the State Audit Organization of Laos

Attending the meeting were Deputy Auditor General, Mrs. Ha Thi My Dzung and leaders of SAV Departments including International Cooperation, Administration, General Affairs, Organization and Personnel, Auditing Policies & Quality Control, Regional Audit Office No. VI and IT Center.

Mr. Ngo Van Tuan welcomed SAO Lao Delegation on his working visit SAV on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 45th anniversary of the Viet Nam - Lao Treaty of Amity and Cooperation. Briefing on the results of high-level exchange visits between Viet Nam and Laos since early 2022, Mr. Ngo Van Tuan affirmed that these visits have contributed to further consolidating the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.

Mr. Tuan was pleased with the outstanding achievements of the State Audit Organization of Laos recently, reflected in SAO's role and position, which has been confirmed in the Constitution and the Law on State Audit of the Democratic Republic of Lao. "The achievements of SAO Laos have practically contributed to the socio-economic development and the construction of an increasingly wealthy and prosperous Laos," said Mr. Ngo Van Tuan.

At the meeting, he also shared some outstanding activities of SAV in recent times. By the end of August 2022, SAV has approved 187 audit plans, conducted 167 audits, finished 137 audits, reviewed 197 draft audit reports and issued 157 audit reports. It is also preparing reports to submit to the 15th National Assembly at its 4th Session, which would take place in October 2022. Meanwhile, it continues to improve the legal framework for SAV's operation, completes the system of audit formats and audit standards in order to realize SAV Development Strategy to 2030 approved by the National Assembly.

In international cooperation activities, SAV has promoted its role as an active and responsible member of international auditing organizations; signed 20 international agreements with bilateral partners including SAO Laos.

For future cooperation between the two SAIs, Mr. Ngo Van Tuan emphasized the promotion and improvement of the effectiveness of regular activities such as the exchange of delegations at the management level, supporting SAO Laos in strengthening its institution, amendment of the State Audit Law, organization of its apparatus, and audit capacity building. SAV would send its experts to help Laos auditors to conduct in-depth audits in such areas as State budget audit, capital construction investment, State-owned enterprises, project investment; train Laos auditors in Viet Nam and in Laos at the request of the SAO Laos.
 
Concerning the proposal of SAO Laos for building its electronic office (E-office), Mr Tuan affirmed SAV’s full support and experience sharing within its capacity for SAO’s digitalization and modernization strategy and wished that the relationship between SAV and SAO to become a role model for the agencies of the two Parties and States, contributing to the sustainable friendship between the two sides.

In response, President of SAO Laos Mr. Viengthavisone Thephachanh expressed his sincere thanks to Deputy Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan and Leaders of SAV for spending valuable time with the delegation.

Appreciating the effective cooperation and support of SAV for SAO, he affirmed that SAV plays an important role in supporting and assisting SAO in formulating the Law on State Audit of Laos, State Audit Standards, incorporation of its legal status in the Laos State Constitution, which contributes to enhancing the role, position and prestige of SAO with the Party, State and people.

Sharing about the activities of SAO, Mr. Viengthavisone Thephachanh said that SAO was established in 1998, a unified organization from the top down, headed by a President who is elected or dismissed through meetings of the National Assembly at the proposal of the National Assembly Standing Committee, for a term of five years. SAO consists of 03 Regional State Audits located in the North, Central and South regions.

As of the end of April 2022, SAO's total number of staff is 426 people, of which 241 are auditors. “The advantage of SAO is that it has well-trained young staff, but their actual professional qualifications are still limited. Therefore, improving the quality of staff is an urgent requirement for us to fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party and State," said Lao President of SAO.

Mr. Viengthavisone Thephachanh extended his wish to continue to receive SAV's support and cooperation in improving the quality of human resources through sharing experience and knowledge in professional activities, especially thematic audit field; overcoming the overlap in inspection and audit activities; implementing the E-office project for SAO to improve the application of information technology in auditing activities, etc.

After the meeting, SAO Delegation visited SAV Chamber of Honor and the Data Integration Center. As planned, in the morning of September 7, 2022, the Delegation would attend a sharing experience seminar on capacity building for civil servants, auditors and audit quality assurance.