(sav.gov.vn) – On the morning of 17 July, at the headquarters of the State Audit Office of Viet Nam (SAV), Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan received a high-level delegation from the State Audit Organisation of Laos (SAO), led by its President, Mr Viengthavisone Thephachanh, on a courtesy visit.
Joining the Lao delegation were SAO Vice President Mr Toy Phonthilath, senior officials from the Southern Region Audit Office and various departments of the SAO. From the Vietnamese side, the meeting was attended by Deputy Auditor General Ha Thi My Dzung and leaders of several affiliated units.
The Embassy of Laos in Viet Nam was represented by H.E. Ambassador Khamphau Anthavan and Second Secretary
Souphalak Soukpanya.
In his welcoming remarks, Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan expressed his pleasure at meeting President Thephachanh once again and warmly welcomed the Lao delegation’s visit to Viet Nam from 16 to 20 July.
On behalf of the SAV, Mr Tuan also extended heartfelt condolences to the Party, State, and people of Laos on the passing of Comrade Khamtay Siphandone, former President of the Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and former President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and expressed hopes that the Lao people will soon overcome this great loss and continue building a strong and united nation in line with his legacy.
Updating his esteemed guests on Viet Nam’s socio-economic situation and SAV activities in the first half of 2025, Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan noted that 2025 marks a year of numerous national milestones for Viet Nam, including Party congresses at all levels in preparation for the 14th National Party Congress. The country is also advancing a reform agenda aimed at streamlining and enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of public administration.
Despite global and domestic challenges, the Vietnamese Party and State remain committed to achieving an economic growth target of over 8%. To that end, Viet Nam is implementing four key national resolutions regarded as the “four strategic pillars” for national development. In the first half of the year, the country recorded a growth rate of 7.2%.
In line with the new governmental model, the SAV has restructured and streamlined its organisational apparatus, reducing the number of regional audit offices. In terms of Party work, since February 2025, the SAV Party Committee has been placed under the National Assembly Party Committee and has successfully held its 8th Congress for the 2025–2030 term.
The Congress documents reviewed achievements and identified limitations from the 2020–2025 term, while outlining strategic goals and tasks for the 2025–2030 period based on four pillars:
First, turther streamlining the SAV’s organisational structure in line with future requirements;
Second, enhancing the legal framework for audit operations, including developing a strategic roadmap to 2040–2045 and revising the Law on State Audit by 2027;
Third, promoting digital transformation and the application of science and technology in audit activities;
Fourth, improving the quality of audit reports.
As of mid-July, the SAV has carried out 118 out of 156 audit missions planned for the year and largely completed the audits of 2024 state budget settlement reports of ministries, sectors, and localities, in support of the ongoing organisational restructuring efforts.
In addition, the SAV has reallocated human resources, enhanced international cooperation, and begun applying artificial intelligence (AI) in audit activities to improve the accuracy of audit findings and recommendations.
President Thephachanh expressed sincere appreciation for the warm welcome and valuable insights shared by Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan. He conveyed his delight at the opportunity for the SAO delegation to visit and work with the SAV and thanked the SAV for its long-standing support and partnership.
He affirmed: “This visit by the Lao State Audit Organisation delegation contributes to further deepening the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between Viet Nam and Laos.”
President Thephachanh expressed particular interest in Viet Nam’s institutional reform efforts at both central and local levels, noting that Laos is undertaking similar structural reforms.
According to Mr Thephachanh, in the first half of 2025, the SAO of Laos conducted audits at 108 out of 154 planned entities, a progress rate of over 70%. He expressed appreciation for the SAV’s continued support in organising joint training programmes on shared audit themes and in the implementation of the E-Office project.
One ongoing challenge for the SAO, he said, lies in the follow-up and monitoring of audit recommendations. Moreover, the SAO of Laos currently lacks the capacity to apply AI in auditing. He noted that amendments to the Lao Constitution have now formally recognised the SAO’s role in providing input on state budget estimates and central budget allocations.
“We hope to continue learning from and receiving the valuable support of the SAV in these areas,” President Thephachanh stated.
On this occasion, he also extended his congratulations to the SAV on the 31st anniversary of its establishment and commended the important achievements it has made in contributing to Viet Nam’s economic growth.
Looking ahead, Auditor General Ngo Van Tuan expressed hope that the SAV and SAO will further strengthen their comprehensive cooperation in 2025 and beyond, and that their special friendship and effective collaboration will continue to deepen in line with the evolving responsibilities and mandates of both organisations – worthy of the unique relationship between Viet Nam and Laos.
Following the courtesy meeting, the two SAIs convened a technical conference on “The involvement of SAIs in the state budget planning cycle and mechanisms, procedures, and methods for monitoring the implementation of audit recommendations.”