Following is UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message to the twenty-first International Congress of Supreme Audit Institutions, delivered by Wu Hongbo, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, in Beijing on 22 October:

I am delighted to send my greetings to this INTOSAI [International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions] Congress, as you mark your sixtieth anniversary. It is a pleasure to be part of a milestone event for a time-honoured profession — government auditing — with a long-standing partner.

For more than 40 years, our two institutions have worked together to support capacity development in public auditing through professionalization and standard-setting, particularly in developing countries.

Among China’s many contributions to the work of the United Nations is its active engagement in this important area.

Since 2008, Chinese experts have carried out field audits of United Nations peacekeeping operations. Mr. Liu Jiayi, the Auditor-General of China and the host of the Congress, is also one of the current three members of the United Nations Board of Auditors, which provides independent external audit services to the General Assembly. The Board helps the Assembly to promote the accountability of UN entities for the use of public resources and the delivery of international public services. This work is crucial to the development pillar of the United Nations.

This Congress is being held at a crucial moment in our global efforts to advance economic growth, social progress and environmental stewardship. The international community is striving to accelerate work towards the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) while formulating a transformative development agenda for the period beyond 2015, building on the success of the MDGs. Good governance, transparency, accountability and innovative financing are being recognized as critical aspects of the emerging agenda.

Supreme Audit Institutions are the “watchdogs” that help to foster the efficient and effective use of public resources. They will play a critical role in supporting the implementation of this new sustainable development agenda.

I thank INTOSAI for its long-standing cooperation with the United Nations. I look forward to continuing our cooperation to strengthen Supreme Audit Institutions. Together, we can build a stronger foundation for enduring peace, sustainable development and the protection of universal human rights.

I wish you a very successful meeting. Xiexie. Thank you.

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