Africa can learn from China’s Audit experience, Auditor General
International Audit Seminar for African English Speaking Countries was conducted in China, Nanjing and Guangzhou provinces from October 17-27, 2016. Auditor Generals and other senior officials from 14 English speaking African countries participated in the seminar. A delegation led by H.E Mr. Gemechu Dubiso, Auditor General of the FDRE represented Ethiopia at the event.
During the first part of semin ar held at Nanjing Audit University, Nanjing province, participants discussed very important audit-related issues tabled by numerous presentations. Among the topics discussed during the seminar were: the development course and prospect of social security audit in China, higher education audit in China, national audit standards of China, Chinese state-owned enterprises auditing, introduction of economic responsibility audit system in China, and the theories and practices of Chinese national auditing and information technology in audit.
Fervent discussions were made on the presentations, of which, the issues of economic accountability audit and real time audit received heightened attention from participants. The forum served as an experience sharing opportunity that helped participants acquire knowledge and experience that would improve the audit work in their respective countries.
Different side events took place during the seminar, of which the welcome dinner reception hosted by the Auditor General of the Peoples’ Republic of China H.E. Mr. Liu Jiayi was one. On this occasion the Auditor General of Ethiopia Mr. Gemechu Dubiso delivered a speech on behalf of all African participants.
In his remarks, Mr. Gemechu highlighted the remarkable development that China has made over the past 30 years. Mr. Gemechu emphasized in his speech that the speed at which China has achieved this amazing result, i.e. leaping from being a poor country to its current standing as industrial power house of the world, is the outcome of the right policy, effective leadership, commitment and hardworking culture of the Chinese people, which he said should be emulated by all developing countries. Africa can benefit from the development stories and experiences of China, he underscored.
Mr. Gemechu also underlined the impact of institutional level cooperation and experience sharing among accountability institutions to ensure efficiency and effectiveness of public administration as part of improving national governance. He expressed his belief that Chinese National Audit Office has, indeed, a unique character and experience including real time and economic accountability audits, which African SAIs could emulate. Mr Gemechu said this requires a platform that could be used to ensure continued engagement and sharing among the SAIs.
Other side events like Tai Chi; Chinese marshal art, the Chinese cultural exploration, visit to the Audit academy of Nanjing Audit University,CSR Nanjing Puzhen co.LTD,Dr. Sun Yat-Sen’s Mausoleum and CNAO regional office in Nanjing made the seminar complete in its objective of sharing experience.
During the second part of seminar, the seminar home moved to Guangzhou province and the Provisional Audit Office hosted the remainder of the seminar with different and outstanding events until its closing. Visit and practical experience sharing were major tasks in Guangzhou.