The 2018 Commonwealth Summit will set out the future for a vibrant
and diverse Commonwealth, the Prime Minister
said today (March 13), as the UK joins nations around the world to
mark Commonwealth Day.
Leaders from more than 50 countries are expected to attend next
year’s Summit, which will take place during the week of 16 April
2018 in London and Windsor. For the first time, Buckingham Palace
and Windsor Castle will be among the Summit venues.
Today, the Prime Minister will meet Prime Minister Muscat of
Malta, the current Commonwealth Chair, to discuss our shared
commitment to the Commonwealth and preparations for next year’s
Summit. She will also join the annual Commonwealth Day service at
Westminster Abbey, which will be attended by Her Majesty the
Queen.
Speaking on Commonwealth Day, the Prime Minister
said:
“As we prepare to host the Commonwealth Summit in London
next April, we are reminded today of the unique and proud global
relationships that we have forged with the diverse and vibrant
alliance of Commonwealth nations.
“The UK has a longstanding and firm commitment to the
Commonwealth and to the values it upholds, of democracy, human
rights and the rule of law.
“And in hosting the Commonwealth Summit next year, the UK
is committed to working with all members not only to reaffirm
these shared values, but also to reenergise and revitalise the
Commonwealth to cement its relevance to this and future
generations.
“As we look to create a truly Global Britain, the deep
partnerships that we share through a 21st Century
Commonwealth can help us strengthen the prosperity and security
of our own citizens, and those of our many friends and allies
across the world.”
The Prime Minister and Cabinet will oversee preparations to
ensure the Commonwealth Summit is a truly cross-government
effort, including through a new dedicated Inter-Ministerial Group
co-chaired by the Foreign Secretary and Home Secretary .
A central team has also been established in the Cabinet Office to
deliver the Summit, working closely with the Commonwealth
Secretariat and member states.
The dedicated unit will report directly to the Prime Minister,
who has appointed Tim Hitchens as its CEO. Tim Hitchens was
previously British Ambassador to Japan, and has served as Africa
Director and Europe Director in the Foreign Office, and also as
Assistant Private Secretary to The Queen.
The Commonwealth is made up of 52 members spanning six continents
with a combined population of around 2.4 billion people, almost
half of whom are under 25. The network includes established
economies such as Australia, Canada and New Zealand, as well as
emerging markets like India, Malaysia, and South Africa, with
trade between Commonwealth countries projected to be worth $1
trillion by 2020.
The Summit in April 2018 will see the UK take over as Chair of
the Commonwealth until 2020.
