leaders from 53 Commonwealth countries, including India, converged in this Mediterranean island for the biennial summit of the bloc amid unprecedented security to explore concerted global efforts to deal with terrorism and tackle climate change.
Queen Elizabeth II, who arrived along with Prince Philip, inaugurated the Opening Ceremony of the summit of the grouping, born out of the British empire, in which India is the biggest member. India’s External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Sri lankan President Maithripala Sirisena, British Prime Minister David Cameron are among the leaders attending the three-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
In his welcome address, Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat said combating terrorism and extremism should be the top most priority of Commonwealth and sought wider discussion among the member countries to deal with the challenge of climate change.