The theme “Environmental Auditing for Sustainable Development" is one of the important contents of the agenda of the ongoing 14^th Assembly of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) in Hanoi as it clarifies the role of environmental auditing in supporting governments to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs).

Participants in the opening ceremony of ASOSAI 14 in Hanoi on September 19 pose for a photo. (Photo: VNA)

It shows messages, commitments, efforts and practical contributions of the ASOSAI community to pursuing sustainable development goals of the U.N. and addressing global environmental challenges.

According to State Auditor General of Vietnam Ho Duc Phoc, in the process of sustainable development, countries face environmental challenges such as climate change, emission and waste water.

Vietnam, as a developing country, encounters the situation of imported scraps and backward technology, he said.

The theme provides a holistic view of current environmental issues, while considering links between these issues and SDGs of the U.N., Phoc said.

Archana Shirsat, a representative from the INTOSAI Development Initiative (IDI), said that the U.N. Development Programme until 2030 mentions integration in three aspects, and one of which is the environment.

Therefore, the environment is a very important topic, and a priority in the context of integration in each country.

During ASOSAI 14, member supreme audit institutions (SAIs), including the State Audit of Vietnam (SAV), will share challenges, experience and solutions to effectively implement the environmental auditing function towards protecting the global environment and promoting sustainable development.

Participants are also sharing their knowledge and experience in how to improve the role and position of SAIs in environmental auditing, environmental protection and sustainable development in each country and on global scale.

Deputy Auditor General of Thailand Sirin Phankasem said Thailand has been carrying out a lot of environmental and water auditing activities, and it has extensive experience in environmental auditing training.

The country can assist Vietnam in training audit personnel as well as implementing activities of ASOSAI in the 2018-2021 term as Vietnam holds the chairmanship.

In an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of the event, Auditor-General of China’s National Audit Office Hu Zejun also highlighted the significance of ASOSAI 14’s theme.

She said the Chinese Government pays special attention to protecting ecological environment, considering the prevention of environment pollution as one of the most important tasks that the country need to do.

China’s audit agency always promotes its efforts to build an auditing environment towards promoting sustainable economic development.

The country also applies Big Data technology, which is very useful in the work, she noted.

The audit agencies of Vietnam and China have cooperated across spheres and shared information in the field, she noted./.

VNF/VNA