Hanoi (VNA) – The outcomes of provincialanti-corruption efforts in 2016 did not meet the real demand or match the Partyand State’s resolve, the Government Inspectorate (GI) has found.

The information was revealed at a workshop onthe 2016 provincial anti-corruption assessment held in Hanoi on March 16. Theevent was organised by the GI, the UNDP in Vietnam and the Anti-Corruption andCivil Rights Commission (ACRC) of the Republic of Korea (RoK). 

Deputy Inspector General of the GI Nguyen VanThanh said corruption has gone beyond the border of each country and become apressing issue that threatens socio-economic development in many nations.

In Vietnam, corruption fight has beencontinually considered a critical and regular task of the whole politicalsystem. However, corruption and wastefulness are still serious in a number ofsectors and at different levels, he noted.

ACRC Vice Chairman Kyung-ho Park saidanti-corruption activities will face obstacles if they solely rely on theGovernment’s effort and determination. It needs the active involvement andsupport of the public.

The ACRC will actively assist anti-corruptionactivities in Vietnam in the time ahead, he added.

In 2016, the GI approved the provincialanti-corruption assessment index based on the RoK commission’s experience witha view to evaluating anti-corruption performance of provincial People’sCommittees.

The 100-point scale is based on the statemanagement of anti-corruption, the implementation of preventive measures, thediscovery of corruption, and the handling of corruption.

Accordingly, the national average is 58.34 outof 100 points, which is said to basically reflect the fact of provincialanti-corruption last year. There is a gap among localities with 77.67 pointsthe highest and 43.53 points the lowest. A half of the 63 provinces and citieshad their anti-corruption performance lower than the national average.

Notably, only 0.057 percent of the assetdeclarations were verified, which means only one in every 10,000 people had hisor her asset declarations examined.

Some provincial People’s Committees explainedthat asset verification is mainly conducted to prepare for the appointment ofofficials. Only a few declarations reported to be dishonest were checked.

This fact show that asset verification remainspassive and inconsistent, hampering the corruption fight’s effectiveness inVietnam, the GI said.

At the workshop, participants said provincialand municipal People’s Committees need to enhance the state management ofanti-corruption and boost coordination with local agencies such as VietnamFatherland Front committees and member organisations. It should diversifycommunication activities to raise public awareness of signs and impacts ofcorruption.

Local authorities recommended to step upunscheduled examination when signs of corruption are detected and to increasechannels through which corruption is reported, especially though denunciationsand the media.-VNA