Hanoi (VNA) – The Central SteeringCommittee on Anti-Corruption held its 14th meeting in Hanoi on August 16 toreview its performance so far this year, as well as its general progress sinceits establishment five years ago.

The meeting took place under the chair ofGeneral Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee (CPVCC)Nguyen Phu Trong, who also leads the committee.

Phan Dinh Trac, head of the CPVCC’s Commissionfor Internal Affairs, reported that over the last five years, the committee hasdirected the accelerated settlement of serious corruption cases, as well as putsome complex cases under its direct supervision with the principle of “no zonesoff limits and no persons exempted, regardless of who they are.”

Among the severe and complicated corruption andeconomic cases under its supervision, 40 cases involving 500 defendants havebeen brought to trial and strict penalties imposed. 

The Central Committee has sent 40 working groupsto examine, monitor, and step up anti-corruption efforts at 15 Party committeesand organisations at the central level and at the 63 Party committees incentral-level localities, he noted.

Since 2013, Party committees and theirinspection boards at all levels have imposed punishments on more than 4,300officials and Party members for corruption or intentional wrongdoings. Throughtheir inspections, they have proposed that over 400 trillion VND (17.2 billionUSD) and 18,500ha of land be revoked, while also transferring 515 cases ofsuspected violations to investigation agencies.

Notably, the CPVCC’s Inspection Commission hasexamined and proposed that the CPVCC, the Politburo, and the CPVCC Secretariatstrictly discipline many Party organisations and members, even incumbent andretired senior officials. Since the beginning of the Party’s 12th term inJanuary 2016, 56 officials under the CPVCC’s management have been punished,Trac added.

Addressing the meeting, General Secretary Trongsaid that over the course of its five years, the steering committee have made concertedefforts and been responsible in its activities, gaining many concrete outcomes.As a result, corruption prevention and combat have made great strides,especially over the last couple of years.

Corruption has gradually been decreased withmany proactive activities in place, helping to promote socio-economicdevelopment and build people’s trust, he added.

He told the committee to improve the quality andeffectiveness of its activities, as well as include authorised agencies in thework.

Referring to weaknesses, the leader pointed outthe slow trickle down effect, whereby officials in upper levels are determined tofight corruption, however those in lower levels have not yet taken on the samespur. Therefore, more drastic measures are needed to make strongerimprovements.

The public are worrying about how to maintainand step up the corruption fight, which is an arduous and long-term battle thatrequires more drastic and effective actions, the General Secretary concluded,stressing that in the short term, the committee needs to carry out its workplan for 2018 and prepare for the next year’s plan well in a methodological andserious fashion.-VNA