PM To Attend Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting In Malta
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will attend this year’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta, from the November 27-29.
In response to a Fiji Sun query, he sent a text from Beijing saying: “Yes in Malta just before COP 21.” He is now on a State visit to China
COP 21 (The Conference of Parties) will take place on December 7-8 at the Stade de France in the Le Bourget area of Paris. It is the supreme body of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It currently meets once a year to review the Convention’s progress and establish the rules of its implementation. Mr Bainimarama will lead the charge of small island nations on climate change.
Before that, Mr Bainimarama will be attending CHOGM for the first time in Malta. Fiji was readmitted to the Commonwealth last year after the general election.
It was suspended in 2009 following the 2006 takeover. This is the second time Fiji has returned to the Commonwealth. The first was in 1997 after Fiji was suspended following the 1987 military coups.
CHOGM is held every two years. The last one was in Sri Lanka.
The theme of the CHOGM this year will be ‘Adding Global Value’
Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma in a release said: “The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting brings together leaders of an immensely diverse yet cohesive grouping of 53 countries representing one third of humanity.
“They assemble from islands and continents at varying stages of development to work on common approaches and to plan practical action motivated by the shared values and principles of the Commonwealth Charter. Goodwill and co-operation, supported by an enduring sense of affinity between the peoples of the Commonwealth, pave the way to fresh approaches to collective benefit.”
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are all to attend the summit.
The meetings would take place at a number of historical venues around Malta, while the Heads of Government retreat would be held at Fort St. Angelo, in Vittorioso.
Feedback: maikab@fijisun.com.fj
