Brunei Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Monday expressed hope that the Commonwealth could reassemble its traditional strength to dispel the shadow of the current global economic dismay.

The current international financial situation has cast a deep and disquieting shadow over world affairs and dimmed the vision of worldwide progress that lit up the memorable Millennium Summit at the United Nations, he said in a Commonwealth Day message.

Many young people may see this shadow spreading and growing even darker in the future, he said in the message carried on Brunei newspapers.

If the Commonwealth was to serve these young people well, it must give the new generation confidence by working together with determination and by reassembling the organization's traditional strengths, he said.

The Commonwealth must offer them more than just words and it must offer them practical opportunities, attainable goals, realistic hopes and constant reassurance, he said.

Young people throughout the Commonwealth must be given renewed clarity of vision, purpose and direction that would guide them towards confident, satisfying and productive lives, he said.

Currently, in member states of the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth Day is reportedly celebrated on the second Monday in March.

Source:Xinhua