Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2022 took place 20-25 June 2022, in Kigali, Rwanda. The theme of 26th CHOGM Summit was: “Delivering a Common Future: Connecting, Innovating, Transforming”.
- It was the 26th Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Key highlights
- The 26th CHOGM underscored the importance of connecting, innovating, and transforming in order to facilitate a full recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
- On the final day of the CHOGM 2022, the leaders decided to achieve the 2030 Agenda and to respond to conflicts and crises in ways that increase resilience and progress in delivering a common future, underpinned by sustainability, peace and prosperity and to improve the lives of all people of the Commonwealth.
- The Declaration on Sustainable Urbanisation and the Kigali Declaration on Child Care and Protection Reform were also adopted.
S. Jaishankar represented India
- External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar visited Kigali from June 22-25 to attend the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).
- He was leading the Indian delegation to the CHOGM. S. Jaishankar represented Prime Minister of India at the Commonwealth Summit on 24-25 June, as well as attending the pre-CHOGM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting on June 23 in Kigali.
- External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar on June 23 said that India as the world’s largest democracy offers numerous examples for the Commonwealth.
- He addressed the CHOGM (Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting) Foreign Ministers’ plenary in Rwanda on June 23 on the theme of Democracy, Peace and Governance. He said India’s digital backbone is of particular relevance.
- The Minister also underscored the importance of collectively addressing the crucial challenges of the present times, including post COVID recovery, climate change and ongoing global conflicts.
About Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGAM)
- It is a voluntary association of 54 countries that evolved gradually from the British Empire and has existed in its modern form since 1949.
- The Commonwealth includes 13 countries in the Caribbean and the Americas, 19 countries in Africa, three in Europe, eight in Asia and 11 in the Pacific.
- It has a combined population of 2.5 billion. India accounts for 1.4 billion of its citizens, while 32 members have populations of 1.5 million or less, the smallest being Nauru, which has 10,000 inhabitants.
- Most of them are former British colonies, but that is not a condition for membership.
- The last two countries to join, Rwanda and Mozambique, have no historical ties to the British Empire.
- Gabon and Togo, both former French colonies, are also expected to apply to join the forum.
