Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades has been taking take part in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, taking place in Malta, discussing global developments, extremism, radicalisation and sustainable growth.
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“At this meeting, the Commonwealth will be charged with demonstrating leadership, often in practical ways, on an agenda of global issues”, Queen Elizabeth said in her opening address on the Mediterranean island.
India argued that any ambitious statement emanating from the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here should be tempered with realism as the discussions in the run up to the COP 21 at Paris have been complex and hard and should not be overloaded at this stage.
Among the prime ministers who took their seats in the ceremony as their flags flashed across giant screens overhead, were Canada’s new leader, Justin Trudeau, and Pakalitha Mosisili from Lesotho.
The Commonwealth Youth Council to be chaired by Kishva Ambigapathy from Malaysia, was first established in 2013 and is the official representative voice of more than 1.2 billion young people in the Commonwealth.
Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif is representing Pakistan in 24th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
The Commonwealth was finalising fresh agreements on climate change and turning its focus to tackling radicalisation and corruption on Saturday (Nov 28) as leaders retreated to a medieval Maltese fortress for intimate talks.
She lived in Malta between 1949 and 1951 as a newlywed princess, as Prince Philip was stationed on the island as a British naval officer.
World leaders including French President François Hollande and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon were to join the climate debate talks in Valletta on Friday.
And I have been especially touched by one such project, The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, which has been proposed by Commonwealth countries wanting to harness their collective expertise and resources to protect the world’s forests.
Commonwealth secretary-general Kamalesh Sharma said the financial assistance would help some of the most vulnerable countries in the Commonwealth.
She thanked her son for his support and “great distinction” and also praised 94-year-old Prince Philip for his “boundless energy and commitment”. However, no more countries in the 53-member-state association announced further help by now.
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“Ten years after, I feel that the countries feel the effect of climate change”, he said.
