Laos is escalating the fight against corruption with top anti-corruption chief Dr Bounthong Chitmany visiting Vietnam this week to exchange lessons learnt
by Vietnam in fighting corruption.
Dr Bounthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Government Inspection Authority, told Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc that the Lao Government resolutely curbs and handles corruption while reinforcing Party building from the central to grassroots levels, Vietnam Net reported on Wednesday.
The Lao anti-corruption chief called on PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc, briefing him on the outcomes of the talks between Dr Bounthong and his Vietnamese counterpart Phan Van Sau.
Both sides agreed on necessary measures to sign further cooperation agreements between the two nations at the end of 2016.
For his part, the Vietnamese PM hailed the Lao Government for launching anti-corruption campaigns. He told Dr Bounthong about the corruption prevention measures in Vietnam and reiterated the country’s strong determination in this drive.
PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Vietnam will prioritise supporting Laos to improve professional skills and hailed the outcome of the talks between the two countries’ inspection authorities, which contribute to improving legal mechanisms in the field as well as promoting experience sharing and enhancing efficiency in regards to inspection work.
This week’s visit to Vietnam by Dr Bounthong was made following his trip to China early this month, where he sought to strengthen exchanges in anti-corruption with China, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Observers noted that Dr Bounthong’s trips to China and Vietnam, where the governments of the two countries are launching tough anti-corruption campaigns, is seen as signaling the intention of Laos to intensify the fight against corruption by making use of best practices from its neighbours.
The move came after the new leadership of Laos pledged to crack down on corruption after the leadership assumed office in April this year.
In his first talks to give guidance to the new government in April, President Bounnhang Vorachit told the new cabinet to take action to address corruption among other major issues as a priority.
Addressing the nationwide inspection meeting last week in Vientiane, Mr. Bounnhang, who is also Secretary General of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, instructed the anti-corruption authorities to appropriately punish those officials found violating the regulations in a bid to stamp out malpractice and lax discipline.
The president also pressed the need for the creation of measures that would enable members of the public to participate in inspection work.
Source: Vientiane Times
