Good morning and welcome to Windsor Castle; as we've
seen, a magnificent setting for us to meet, in the best
Commonwealth tradition, in the intimacy and privacy
of our Retreat.
First let me thank Her Majesty The Queen for her generous
invitation into her home, the first time a Heads of Government
meeting has been held here in a remarkable
history.
I am also struck by the number of Heads of Government we have
assembled here today – a powerful demonstration of our commitment
to revitalise the Commonwealth, and to tap into its
vast potential.
And that vast potential has been clear at the
forums this week. Our Commonwealth family has spent the last
four days sharing perspectives, and finding ways to make a real
difference to people’s lives. I think I speak for everyone around
the room when I say that we have all been inspired by what
we've seen and heard, particularly from our young people.
Yesterday we spoke about our shared challenges as we strive to
build a more sustainable, more prosperous, more secure and fairer
Commonwealth. Today is a chance to build on that, and for the
Commonwealth Heads of Government to talk frankly and openly
within the tradition of the Retreat.
Of course a conversation about these challenges cannot ignore the
fact that at the very moment international co-operation is so
important, some nations are choosing instead to shun the
rules-based system that underpins global security and prosperity.
So I look forward to discussing how the Commonwealth can play its
part to support this rules-based order, and the very concept of
international co-operation.
Today, we also have a number of specific decisions to take,
together with a broader conversation about the common future for
the Commonwealth that we all want to see.
So I am sure today will be a memorable occasion for all of us, by
the end of which I am sure we will all leave even closer friends,
and with a unique understanding of each other in ways which
cannot be matched by other summits.
