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AUSTRALIAN HIGH COMMISSION
OTTAWA

MEDIA RELEASE

AUSTRALIA TO HOST COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF GOVERNMENT MEETING IN 2011

25 May 2010

The Prime Minister of Australia, Kevin Rudd and, Commonwealth Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma, have announced that the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) will be held in Perth, Western Australia from 28 to 30 October 2011.

CHOGM is held every two years and is the highest consultative and policy making mechanism of the 54-nation Commonwealth.

Prime Minister Rudd said that as a committed and active member of the Commonwealth, Australia is delighted to be hosting CHOGM for a third time - Melbourne in 1981, Coolum in 2002 and Perth in 2011.

The Prime Minister noted that "Australia and in particular Western Australia, looks forward to welcoming Commonwealth leaders and delegates to Perth for what I am confident will be a successful summit."

The principal venue for the meeting will be the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Mr Sharma said that the Commonwealth community is delighted and grateful to be hosted once again by the people and government of Australia. He observed that CHOGM brings together leaders representing around one quarter of the world's countries, and one third of the world's population. He said it is the opportunity for Commonwealth leaders to discuss the national and global challenges of our times, to exchange views and best practice, to find paths to peace and prosperity for all.

The agenda for the meeting will be set nearer the time.