The Vietnam National Assembly and the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) have signed a memorandum of understanding regarding Vietnam’s hosting of the 132 nd IPU Assembly scheduled for March, 2015.

The document was reached during the 130th IPU Assembly, which took place in Geneva, Switzerland, from March 16-20, said Ha Minh Hue, member of the National Assembly’s Committee for Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam is actively preparing for the important international event themed “Parliament and the implementation of sustainable development goals beyond 2015” in order to prove itself as a dynamic and cooperative nation, he said.

Vietnam became a member of the IPU in 1979, he said, adding that its bid for organising the 132nd Assembly mirrors the country’s maturity in legislative and international cooperation.

During the freshly-concluded meeting, Cameroonian Martin Chungong has been elected as the new Secretary General of the IPU for a four-year tenure, taking over from Anders B.Johnssson, who had held the post for 16 years.

Chungong has become the first African to hold the position in the union’s 125-year history. He will take office from June.

The IPU also welcomed Tonga as its 164th member at its 130th Assembly.-VNA