The need for the Commonwealth to be reformed was acquiring more support, Commonwealth secretary general Kamalesh Sharma told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during a meeting in New York.

Dr Muscat expressed satisfaction that talks on the subject were currently underway. He said the aim of the reform was for the summit to come up with more focused positions with the participation of the heads of member states for the meeting to be a really productive one.

The meeting also discussed preparations underway in Malta for next year’s summit.

The Prime Minister also discussed the summit during a meeting with Sri Lankan President Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is Commonwealth chairman. Malta would be assuming the chairmanship next year.

He also agreed Commonwealth meetings should be more strategic and promised Sir Lanka’s assistance in this regard. Support for Malta’s proposals was also expressed by New Zealand’s Foreign Affairs Minister Murry McCully during another bilateral meeting.

Dr Muscat explained Malta’s position on the proposed reform of the Commonwealth during a meeting with other heads of government.