Indonesian audit official: China-aided training program delivers more than skills

Editor's notes: A workshop for audit officials of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was successfully held from June 23 to 29. Initiated by the China International Development Cooperation Agency and hosted by the audit official training center of China's National Audit Office, the event was attended by 35 representatives from top audit agencies and relevant government bodies of 10 ASEAN member states.

Yosua Peranginangin, who works in the Audit Board of Indonesia, attended the training program in China and shared his unforgettable experiences.

According to the schedule, the workshop was held from June 23 to 29 in Nanjing and Yancheng, Jiangsu province. The program has been training ASEAN audit officials for years.

Before I came to China, I learned about this country mainly through online photos and news, most related to its strong economy, manufacturing, infrastructure and technologies. However, after several days of exchanges with my Chinese counterparts, I realized that China's accomplishments are far beyond economic success.

I was deeply impressed by the balance that China tried hard to strike between economic development and environmental protection. China's environmental protection concepts and actions made me reflective of the parameters of progress — a cluster of skyscrapers might be far from perfection if the living environment is not sustainable.

The workshop also gave me a deeper understanding of China's approach to social security auditing, and how public resources can be directed to those most in need. It made me realize that auditing is more than a mixture of verifying numbers, reviewing documents and inspecting processes; it can be used as an effective approach to ensure public funds are properly used.

Another element that caught my eyes was China's rich experience in public budget management and government auditing. Its audit system design and the practices associated with the design differ from those of Indonesia, which reminded me of the truth that every country must work out an audit system in light of its own social circumstances and administrative structure.

I was also impressed by China's exploration in the application of technology in auditing, which is highly relevant to an ASEAN audit research initiative under my charge. China's National Audit Office is currently chair of the Working Group on Big Data of the International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions and has been sharing its experience on bilateral and multilateral occasions. Learning about the data collection and use situations of the ASEAN member states, the Chinese side also arranged for experienced practitioners to provide tailored guidance and practical solutions based on the specific needs and challenges of each country. The advice was highly relevant and immediately applicable.

I kept learning new things outside the workshop. My Chinese counterparts demonstrated to us how drones were used in environmental auditing, enabling auditors to access and assess sites that were once difficult to reach using traditional methods. I browsed through ancient China's audit records at the China Audit Museum in Nantong and gained insight into how concepts such as accountability and official responsibility were understood and practiced centuries ago.

At the end of my stay in China, we conducted an on-site survey in Yancheng, learning about the local government's measures for environmental protection and the work procedure of its audit department.

I hope that one day I could return to China. But now I am eager to share my inspiring learning experience with my colleagues, families and friends.