Nusa Dua, Bali (ANTARA News) - The cooperation ASEAN member countries are to pursue through their ASEAN Supreme Audit Institute (ASEANSAI) will be focused on capacity building and not interfere in their internal affairs, Indonesia`s chief public auditor said,

"We can be sure that the cooperation in ASEANSAI will not interfere in the affairs of the ASEAN member countries` respective supreme audit agencies," Hadi Puronomo, chairman of Indonesia`s Supreme Audit Board (BPK), said here Wednesday.

He said ASEANSAI was formed after audit agencies in ASEAN member countries felt the need for a forum that could help increase their respective capacities.

Therefore, ASEANSAI was intended to facilitate cooperation in efforts to improve the capacity of auditors in ASEAN member countries in accordance with their own duties and responsibilities.

Hadi hoped ASEANSAI would become a partner of audit agencies in ASEAN members countries in their efforts to contribute positively and constructively to the formation of an ASEAN community.

"The cooperation can be done by sharing knowledge and experience in the audit sector," he said.

Indonesian Audit Agency`s (BPK) Deputy Chairman Hasan Bisri said the ASEANSAI forum was only a medium for auditors` capacity building in each agency and also to share auditing experiences among ASEAN member countries.

"This cooperation is not intended to conduct joint audits but to do parallel audits in member countries," he said.

ASEANSAI`s secretariat would be located in the ASEAN member country that happened to be the ASEAN chair.

As earlier reported, the first ASEANSAI forum was opened by Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono within the larger framework of ASEAN Summit activities in Nusa Dua, Bali.

An accord on the formation of ASEANSAI was signed by the chiefs of the supreme audit agencies of ASEAN`s 10 member countries. countries.(*)

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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
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