Secretary-General holds talks with Malaysian Prime Minister

Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma held talks with Malaysian Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Putrajaya on arrival in the South-East Asian country on 4 August 2008 for a three-day official visit.

They discussed the upcoming Special Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to be held on the eve of the High-Level Event on the Millennium Development Goals in New York on 24 September. The agenda of the Commonwealth leaders’ meeting will include discussion of reform of international institutions; governance for the environment and development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals; food security; and the impact of the oil crisis.

The Secretary-General underlined the Commonwealth’s strong relationship with Malaysia, which is playing host to the 54th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (1-10 August 2008) as well as the 17th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (15-19 June 2009).

In his meeting with Foreign Minister Dato’ Dr Rais Yatim, the Secretary-General briefed the minister, who chairs the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, on current developments. The nine-member Group, which comprises Ghana, Malaysia, Namibia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, St Lucia, Sri Lanka, United Kingdom and Uganda, will next meet in New York on 27 September this year.

In his meetings with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, they discussed ways in which the Commonwealth’s global relevance and impact can be further enhanced, including the strengthening of strategic partnerships with other organisations.

Mr Sharma also met representatives of Opposition parties at Parliament House in Kuala Lumpur.

Secretariat Links:

• Country Profile: Malaysia