The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) closed this morning with a press conference chaired by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat.
Dr Muscat said CHOGM had achieved convergence and near unanimity on a very focused statement on climate change, which was a good augury for the success of the climate change conference tomorrow.
The conference also had a high level of convergence on issues such as tackling extremism and radicalisation, migration and equality.
With regard to extremism and radicalization, the Commonwealth now had a set-up which would be beefed up and help countries to fight extremism.
Dr Muscat said the appointment of a woman as Secretary General of the Commonwealth (Baroness Scotland), sent a signal about championing equality in areas such as sexual orientation. Some did not agree with his views, Dr Muscat admitted, but a constructive dialogue had been started. The Commonwealth was not about shaking hands but being honest about issues. Silence did not bring change.
Dr Muscat thanked all involved in making CHOGM a success, including Phyllis Muscat and her organisational task force.
Dr Muscat was followed by a number of heads of government from Pacific and Caribbean countries who all agreed about the success of the meeting.
The prime minister of Barbados, Freundel Stuart, said the meeting underlined the relevance of the Commonwealth. He said shared values helped participants triumph over their differences and make the conference the resounding success it was. On climate change, he stressed that: "When the planet speaks, we have no choice but to listen."
President Kenyatta of Kenya said this was a successful summit which cleared the way forward in various issues, especially climate change.
The President Nauru Baron Divavesi Waqa said delegates had learnt to be tolerant of each other. He stressed that climate change was an issue of life and death for several countries.
Baron Divavesi Waqa, President of Nauru added: 'People next to us may not share our same ideas, but climate change puts us all in the same canoe. Climate change issues are not to be hijacked by occurrences in past weeks. Climate change affects everyone."
Kamalesh Sharma, outgoing Secretary-General of the Commonwealth said this was a landmark summit that lived up to its aim of adding global value and he was happy by the vibrancy of the various meetings, including the fora for business, youth and women.
He thanked the people of Malta for the warmth of their welcome and having set a record of having embraced CHOGM twice in a decade.