Ha Noi (VNA)- Experts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have urged Viet Nam to rush in finalising a legal framework against monetary laundering although the country is not in the group of primary concern.

ADB experts made the urging at a two-day workshop that ended on March 3, stressing that a legal system specialising in the control of monetary laundering is a precondition for any economy on the way towards global integration.

They said what businesspeople and investors are looking for in Viet Nam is a well-controlled financial source and lower interest rates (namely less risks).

The workshop was co-sponsored by the State Bank of Viet Nam (SBV), which reported that a draft of a regulation against monetary laundering was submitted to the Government in November, 2004 after more than 2 years' preparation.

The SBV representative said that the regulation is expected to be promulgated within the first half of this year.

SBV professional agencies are also working hard on guidelines and rules regarding duties and roles of an information centre on monetary laundery in order to ensure the success of the regulation once it comes into force.

The International Narcotics Control Strategy Report puts Viet Nam among the countries of average concern, or the second level according to the scale of monentary laundering crimes in the world./.