The 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) took place from 20th June 2022 to 25th June, 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda.Leaders of the Commonwealth countries will conduct the CHOGM every two years.
- It is a week-long programme of high-level side events, minister’s meetings and forums such as, the Commonwealth Youth Forum, the Commonwealth Women’s Forum, the Commonwealth Business Forum, and the Commonwealth People’s Forum.
- The theme of 26th CHOGM Summit – “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming.”
Outcomes of the event:
i.The External Affairs Minister (EAM), S. Jaishankar paid a four day visit to Rwanda to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), representing the Prime Minister of India and led the Indian delegation to the CHOGM.
ii.The 4 outcome documents were adopted by the Leaders of the Commonwealth Member States for the global challenges, CHOGM Communique; Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform; Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation and Commonwealth Living Lands Charter: A Commonwealth Call to Action on Living Lands (CALL).
Note – The 2024 CHOGM will be hosted by Samoa.
Collective concern:
Jaishankar underscored the importance of collectively addressing the crucial challenges such as climate change including post COVID recovery, achieving the 2030 Agenda, increasing resilience and progress in delivering a common future along with sustainability, peace and prosperity.
The Counterparts Meeting at CHOGM 2022:
i.EAM S Jaishankar has met his counterparts from Tanzania and the Solomon Islands to enhance bilateral cooperation in various sectors.
- He met FM Jeremiah Manele of the Solomon Islands to discuss cooperation in energy, IT, and agriculture and also met Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs Liberata Mulamula to discuss the development partnership which showed results in water, agriculture and education.
ii.He also discussed broad-based bilateral cooperation with Ibrahim Solih, President of Maldives and Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda.
iii.He held talks with Vincent Biruta of Rwanda and exchanged perspectives on regional developments.
iv.Jaishankar met Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary of Foriegn Affairs Raychelle Omamo and discussed the impact of the conflict in Ukraine and bilateral ties.
v.He also met Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss to discuss bilateral ties and geopolitical trends.
vi.He also met his counterparts from the Namibia, Jamaica, Sierra Leone and Cyprus and discussed a range of regional and global issues with them.
India-UK Launches Joint Commonwealth Diplomatic Academy Programme
EAM S Jaishankar and United Kingdom’s (UK’s), Foreign Secretary Liz Truss has announced the establishment of a joint India-UK Commonwealth ‘Diplomatic Academy programme’ which aims to train young and aspiring diplomats from both nations at the CHOGM Meeting in Kigali, Rwanda.
- The Academy programme will be hosted in New Delhi, India and comprises young diplomats from all Commonwealth Member States with expertise and training on global challenges.
About Commonwealth:
Members – It is the association of 56 countries
Established – 1949
Secretary-General – Rt Hon Patricia Scotland QC
India & Commonwealth:
i.India is one of the largest contributors to the Commonwealth in terms of technical assistance and capacity building.
ii.In 2018, India created Commonwealth Window with USD 50 million for development projects and assistance to developing countries of the Commonwealth.
