Unseasonal warmth in London as Commonwealth Heads meet

Unseasonal warmth in London as the Commonwealth Heads meet

The weather in London this week will reach 25C for 53 nations from around six continents to gather for the 25th CHOGM hosted by UK between the 16 - 20 April 2016.

For the first time since 2003, the Republic of Zimbabwe will be invited to attend this assembly this year.

In the face of global isolation and the need for a stand against protectionism, the Commonwealth, a bastion of "free trade" and home to one third of the world's  population, each nation will have an equal say regardless of its size  or their economic structure. 
                                                                 

                                                        

This year's theme is "Towards a Common Future" with sub heading of the summit being a more sustainable, fairer, secure and a more prosperous future.  With 1 billion of the 2.3 billion population of the Commonwealth being young people, the engagement of the young fits in with the way forward.

Prince Harry opened the Commonwealth Youth Forum at Queen Elizabeth Hall,London on 16 April 2018.

The Challenges ahead include the focus on future leadership of the Commonwealth, the trade and investment after Brexit, the refugee crisis in Sudan,the Rohingya people, the LBGT issue among many others.

The Commonwealth Summit of Leaders will attend working sessions to discuss shared global challenges, attend a dinner hosted by H.M. Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace and gather at Windsor Castle for the Leaders Retreat to meet each other individually and engage in frank dialogue to set the course for future Commonwealth cooperation.

The Chair of the Commonwealth nations until 2020 will pass from Malta to United Kingdom. It will coincide with the Commonwealth becoming the trading block for Britain past Brexit and its withdrawal from EU.

Behind the scene, the two main items of planning are trade and investment. By creating an "international rule based order rather than a deal based system" it is hoped business decisions would be influenced by stability and certainty, to overcome the global  challenges the nations of the Commonwealth will face in the future.

Although an ambitious programme of action is ahead,the milestones of achievement over the years is noticeable to keep the Commonwealth united.

The 26th CHOGM as decided at Malta, will be held in Malaysia.

Victor Cherubim