The 12^th Regional Seminar on Good Governance for Southeast Asian Countries, known as the GG seminar, featuring the latest trends of corruption in the region and countermeasures taken by criminal justice agencies, is taking place in Da Nang from 27 - 29 November.

The international delegates participating in 12th Regional Seminar on Good Governance for Southeast Asian Countries posing for a group photo

Co-organised by the Supreme People's Procuracy of Viet Nam, and the United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI), the international event attracts the participation of representatives from the 11 Southeast Asian countries, and speakers from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

In his remarks at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, Deputy Prosecutor General of the Vietnamese Supreme People's Procuracy Tran Cong Phan, said, over recent years, Vietnamese law enforcement agencies have discovered, prosecuted and adjudicated many cases of large-scale, serious economic corruption using cunning crime tricks.

In Viet Nam, corruption has a tendency of occurring in such aspects as finance, banking, asset management, and basic construction investment.

Viet Nam is focusing on developing the legal framework for tackling corruption.

The Supreme People's Procuracy of Viet Nam is now willing to intensify its cooperation with the judicial authorities of other Southeast Asian countries and Japan in the fight against corruption, and crimes as a whole, in the coming time.

UNAFEI Director Takeshi Seto noted, over the past decade, in addition to legislative developments, Southeast Asian countries have made remarkable strides in the adoption of national anti-corruption strategies and the effective implementation of anti-corruption measures, thereby enabling the investigation and prosecution of corrupt practices in reality.

Corruption, however, is becoming increasingly complex and sophisticated due to the negative impacts arising from the rapid social development.

Mr Takeshi Seto, therefore, hoped this international seminar would offer the chance for the participants to share information on current corruption trends in each country, and exchange their experiences in addressing this matter of deep concern in a more effective manner.

UNAFEI was established in 1962 by agreement between the United Nations and the Government of Japan, with the aim of promoting the sound development of criminal justice systems and mutual cooperation in Asia and the Pacific Region.

The United Nations regional institute has hosted the GG seminar annually since 2007. The event is held in support of activities to establish the rule of law and good governance in Southeast Asian Countries, to contribute to capacity building for criminal justice practitioners, and to promote mutual understanding and cooperation among Southeast Asian countries.