CHOGM – Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
The Commonwealth of Nations is a voluntary association of independent sovereign states, each responsible for its own policies, consulting and co-operating in the common interests of their peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace.
Members of the Commonwealth come from territories in the six continents and five oceans, include peoples of different races, languages and religions, and display every stage of economic development from poor developing nations to wealthy industrialised nations. They encompass a rich variety of cultures, traditions and institutions.
Membership of the Commonwealth is compatible with the freedom of member governments to be non-aligned or to belong to any other grouping, association or alliance.
Within this diversity all members of the Commonwealth hold certain principles in common. It is by pursuing these principles that the Commonwealth can continue to influence international society for the benefit of mankind.
The Commonwealth leaders meet every two years. In October 2011, the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was held in Perth, Western Australia. CHOGM is scheduled to meet on the 15th - 17th November, 2013 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.