Marked across the Commonwealth by a range of activities, Commonwealth Day is an opportunity to promote understanding on global issues, international cooperation and Commonwealth values.

In essence, it is a celebration of what unites us as a Commonwealth community.

Each year, a theme is chosen for Commonwealth Day and this time it is ‘A young Commonwealth’. The choice of this theme is truly significant given that people aged 29 or under account for the majority of the Commonwealth’s population consisting of 2.2 billion.

As noted by the Commonwealth’s Secretary General, Kamalesh Sharma, ‘A young Commonwealth’ recognises the capacity, contribution and potential of young people, particularly in 2015 when the world will define a new global development framework.

This year also features another important event for the Commonwealth because heads of governments from all member states will be meeting in Malta for a summit that will be decisive in determining the future of this organisation.

The Commonwealth summit will bring together Commonwealth leaders to discuss issues that affect Commonwealth citizens and member states. The future of the Commonwealth will also be at the centre of deliberations.

This year’s Chogm theme is ‘The Commonwealth – adding global value’ and as a theme it provides inspiration to make the most of this organisation. It is an invitation for Commonwealth partners to come together as a community and work collectively to add value to its citizens, its member states and to the international community.

Malta has a proud record as a proactive Commonwealth member. We’ve been working with the Commonwealth Secretariat to establish a small states centre of excellence that will provide practical support to fellow member states. We are also exploring ways how to help developing states access finance mechanisms to address the many challenges they face. Malta also continues to provide training opportunities to government officials from other Commonwealth member states in a number of important areas.

Chogm 2015 will thus be critical to determine the Commonwealth’s future

In preparation for a successful Chogm 2015, over the past months we looked at the summit’s format and arrangements and worked with our Commonwealth counterparts to make them more streamlined and effective.

We want Chogm 2015 to be an efficient meeting that delivers results and we also want this meeting to be a watershed event that will give a fresh impetus to an ailing Commonwealth.

Chogm 2015 will thus be critical to determine the Commonwealth’s future. During a speech at the London School of Economics and Political Science last July, the Prime Minister noted that “we have to admit there are all the symptoms of division and dysfunction in an organisation that depends on unity and cooperation. While we should not prepare funeral rites, we need to admit that the patient is sick, before going on to make a diagnosis and prescribe solutions”.

We are thus doing our outmost and hope that Chogm 2015 can provide the ideal venue for Commonwealth leaders to take important bold steps in this direction.

An enhanced Commonwealth will speak with greater unity on the international stage. To do this, Commonwealth governments will have to work more closely with each other so that we can reach consensus on global issues.

Consensus may not be possible on everything but Commonwealth member states can come together and collectively strive for better social and economic conditions, for peace, security and for prosperity.

It is with this constructive and positive approach that we look forward to Malta’s Chogm this November. We want to make sure that the upcoming Chogm is a truly pivotal event that will launch a revitalised Commonwealth that will add global value, especially to the young generations to whom this Commonwealth Day is dedicated.

George Vella is Minister for Foreign Affairs.

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