2007 Commonwealth Summit eyes on transformation of member countries

The 2007 Commonwealth Summit to be held in Kampala will center on the transformation of member countries, a joint statement said Kampala on Friday.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said the summit, under the theme of "transforming Commonwealth societies to achieve political, economic and human development," will highlight on the measures on how to transform member countries.

"In the Commonwealth we have some excellent examples of countries which have transformed and modernized their societies politically and economically. It is an experience we want to see replicated throughout the Commonwealth," Museveni said at the launch of the summit's program at State House.

"I hope this summit will develop an action program for achieving accelerated political, economic and human development in our member nations," he added.

The Commonwealth Secretary General Don McKinnon said in the statement while launching the program in London that the theme has a resonance not only to Commonwealth leaders but also other members of the Commonwealth family.

The Ugandan government is estimated to spend some 70 million U. S.dollars on hosting the summit that will see over 10,000 delegates visiting the East African country.

Museveni said that Uganda is finalizing preparations to hold the summit that will run from November 23 to 25.

The summit, involving 54 heads of governments headed by the Queen of England, is held every two years. The last one was held in the November 2005 in Malta, an island country in the Mediterranean.

Source: Xinhua