A high-level delegation of Viet Nam works with the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic of Cuba

Participating in the meeting from the Cuban Comptroller General’s Office were Comptroller General Miriam Marbán González, Deputy Comptrollers General Acela Martínez Hidalgo and Darlam Dalmau Palomino, along with other leaders and officials of OCGC.

On the Viet Nam side, the delegation included Mr. Vu Hai Ha, Member of the Party Central Committee and Chairman of the National Assembly's Committee on Foreign Affairs; Ms. Nguyen Van Chi, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly's Committee on Finance and Budget; Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy Ngan, Deputy Secretary General of the National Assembly and Deputy Chair of the Office of the National Assembly; Mr. Le Minh Nam, Standing Member of the Committee on Finance and Budget; Mr. Phan Duc Hieu, Standing Member of the Economic Committee; and Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Auditor General.
 

In his opening remarks, the Comptroller General of Cuba expressed delight at welcoming Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai and the high-level delegation of the National Assembly and SAV, appreciating the significance of the visit as a continuation of the strong and practical development in the traditional solidarity and special friendship between Viet Nam and Cuba.

For his part, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Nguyen Duc Hai expressed his pleasure at visiting the fraternal country of Cuba and thanked the Comptroller General and colleagues for the warm and respectful reception. Briefing on the outcomes of the working session between the two parliaments during the first meeting of the Viet Nam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Committee, he emphasized that the leaders on both sides affirmed the need to expand inter-parliamentary relations and agreed to strengthen close coordination both in bilateral framework and on international and regional forums.

He also praised the role and contributions of the Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) in defending public interests and ensuring sustainable development. He expressed hope that this visit would open new prospects for cooperation between the SAV and OCGC, meeting the increasingly high requirements of their roles, functions, and tasks, corresponding to the special close relationship between Viet Nam and Cuba.

During the meeting, Deputy Comptroller General Acela Martínez Hidalgo provided an overview of the organization and operation of OCGC. As a government agency, OCGC aims to be an "excellent organization recognized for its ethical values, professionalism, and well-organized structure, capable of fostering a culture of accountability, effective use of public funds, and integrity, while preventing and effectively addressing misconduct, legal violations, and signs of corruption."

The OCGC consists of the Central Office and regional offices that carry out financial oversight at the local level. In recent years, OCGC has achieved notable results, especially in terms of legal status, functions, duties, authority, and its name since 2009. Acela Martínez Hidalgo also appreciated the cooperation between the SAV and the Cuban counterpart. Despite geographical separation, the two agencies share significant similarities in legal status, providing ample room for collaboration and mutual growth.

Representing the SAV delegation, Deputy Auditor General Nguyen Tuan Anh gave an overview of the SAV's structure, functions, and duties, highlighting that over its 30 years of development, the SAV has consistently innovated to enhance the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of its audits, significantly contributing to the transparency and sustainable development of national finances.

Since its establishment in 1994, the SAV has made remarkable achievements in international cooperation. The SAV has actively participated in multilateral forums such as the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (INTOSAI), the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI), and is one of the founding members of the Southest Asian Supreme Audit Institutions (ASEANSAI). It regularly cooperates with over 50 SAIs worldwide, having formally signed and implemented cooperation agreements with 19 SAIs and international organizations. The SAV and the OCGC signed a bilateral cooperation agreement in Havana in 2003, laying the foundation for their partnership.

During the discussions, Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai suggested that, in the context of the comprehensive Viet Nam-Cuba relationship being continually strengthened and developed, the SAV and the OCGC should promote closer, deeper, and more substantive cooperation.

He outlined several activities that the two institutions could pursue in the near future, including renewing the bilateral cooperation agreement to reflect their current roles, functions, and development needs; implementing cooperation measures in a cost-effective and practical manner, focusing on sharing experience and knowledge, and expanding both bilateral and multilateral cooperation in institutional, organizational, and professional matters for each institution's growth.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai particularly emphasized supporting the two institutions' joint participation in the Viet Nam-Cuba Inter-Parliamentary Committee framework and other areas of mutual interest.

Comptroller General Miriam Marbán González agreed with Vice Chairman Nguyen Duc Hai's suggestion. The two institutions will continue exchanging information and finalize the methods for cooperation to upgrade the relationship on a par with the special traditional bond between Viet Nam and Cuba.