Many officials have been suspended from their duties to facilitate investigations into the cases.

Continuing its 48th session, on the morning of September 14th, the National Assembly Standing Committee discussed the work of preventing and combating corruption in 2020. The Government stated that, with continuous efforts since the beginning of the 12th Party Congress term, the work of preventing and combating corruption in 2020 has continued to make strong progress, with corruption being curbed, gradually prevented, and showing a downward trend.

According to the 2018 Law on Prevention and Combat of Corruption, the initial declaration of assets must be completed before December 31, 2019, but the Government Decree detailing the control of assets and income has not yet been issued.Therefore, the declaration of assets and income under the new law has not yet been implemented.

Hanoi People's Committee Chairman Nguyen Duc Chung and Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vice Chairman Tran Vinh Tuyen have been temporarily suspended from their duties.

However, the declaration of assets and income related to key personnel serving the Party Congresses at all levels has been carried out seriously in accordance with Directive No. 35 of the Politburo on Party Congresses at all levels leading up to the 13th National Congress of the Party.

Regarding accountability, during the reporting period, 81 cases were found where heads of agencies were deemed negligent in allowing corruption to occur; 62 individuals were disciplined; of these, 12 were prosecuted for criminal offenses for allowing corrupt acts to occur within the agencies, organizations, and units under their management and supervision.

Regarding the handling of corruption, investigative agencies within the People's Public Security have handled 508 cases involving 1,186 defendants accused of corruption; of which 286 cases were newly prosecuted, involving 606 defendants, with losses exceeding 9,000 billion VND and 45,503.5 million VND.² Land; over 10,000 billion VND recovered.

Regarding cases under the supervision and direction of the Central Steering Committee on Anti-Corruption, as of July 31, 2020, local authorities had implemented 58 cases under the Committee's supervision and direction. Of these, 15 cases have been completed, and 43 cases are currently being implemented.

The government assesses that, along with the achievements since the beginning of the 12th Party Congress term, it can be affirmed that the fight against corruption has not only not "stagnated" or "slowed down" but continues to be maintained, strongly affirming the determination to fight corruption "without forbidden zones, without exceptions," which is supported and highly appreciated by officials, Party members, the people, and international public opinion.

The government predicts that corruption is gradually being curbed and showing a downward trend, although it remains complex, occurring in many areas and becoming more sophisticated, especially petty corruption, harassment, and causing inconvenience to citizens and businesses in resolving issues for personal gain.

In light of this situation, in 2021 the Government continued to refine the prevention mechanism, ensuring that corruption is "impossible" in accordance with the requirements of the Steering Committee. At the same time, it strengthened inspections, audits, and investigations in areas with high risks and public concerns about corruption, such as: large investment projects; land management and use; privatization, divestment, and restructuring of state-owned enterprises; the buying and selling and transfer of public assets; and large-scale procurement projects using state assets…

The government requests the Supreme People's Court, the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the State Audit Office, and other judicial agencies to continue focusing on recovering assets obtained through corruption, misappropriated assets, and lost assets that have been discovered; and to resolutely prevent corruption from occurring within law enforcement agencies.

Regarding the handling of accountability for heads of agencies, during the reporting period, there were 81 cases where heads of agencies were found to be negligent in allowing corruption to occur; 62 people were disciplined (an increase of 66.1% compared to 2019); of which 12 people were prosecuted for allowing acts of corruption to occur in the agencies, organizations, and units under their management and supervision.

The government stated that all levels and sectors are focusing on implementing the provisions of the Law on Prevention and Combat of Corruption regarding the temporary suspension from work and temporary transfer to other positions for cases requiring suspension in accordance with regulations and Government Decree 59.

Many officials have been promptly suspended to facilitate investigations into cases, including those under the management of the Politburo and the Secretariat, such as the Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Nguyen Duc Chung and the Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen…