PM Wong in Samoa till Saturday for Commonwealth leaders' meeting

APIA, Samoa - Prime Minister Lawrence Wong is attending his first Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting since he became head of government in May 2024.

- Goh Yan Han

PM Wong, who is also Finance Minister, is in Apia, Samoa, from Oct 23 to Oct 26. He is expected to take part in various discussions with other leaders at the conference, which is also known as Chogm.

It is the first time a Pacific Island state is hosting the meeting, whose theme in 2024 is One Resilient Common Future.

Commonwealth leaders will review developments in the grouping and discuss salient global issues, including climate change and building resilient economies, said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office on Oct 23.

PM Wong will also hold bilateral meetings with other leaders on the sidelines of the meeting.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 member states, of which 33 are small states. Chogm is a biennial summit meeting of member countries' heads of government or state.

Leaders at the 2024 meeting include King Charles, who is attending his first Chogm since his coronation in 2023. The new head of the Commonwealth will be hosting a reception for new heads of government, who include PM Wong.