The 2007 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) officially kicked off in Kampala, Uganda earlier this morning with Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi addressing the opening ceremony as the outgoing chairman of the Commonwealth.
Following the introductory speeches, which included those of Queen Elizabeth II, the Commonwealth secretary general Don McKinnon and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, delegates were treated to a dance spectacle that dramatically represented Uganda's history from tribal society to colony and eventually independent state (Picture).
As did Mr McKinnon before him, Dr Gonzi focused primarily on climate change in his speech urging delegates to send a strong message to the forthcoming United Nations climate change conference which will be held in Bali early next month.
If the world wants to avoid having to take drastic measures later, it must act now on climate change, Dr Gonzi stressed, reminding delegates that it had been Malta that placed the matter on the United Nation's agenda in 1988.
Malta and other similar small island states are especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change but the whole world stands to lose from lack of action, Dr Gonzi said, emphasising the need for a coherent and coordinated effort  the world over.
Following the opening ceremony, the leaders of the countries attending in Kampala will be holding the first executive meeting later on today. The meetings will run till Sunday by which time the outcome of the election of the newCommonwealth secretary general will be known. Foreign Minister Michael Frendo is a candidate.