A COLLABORATIVE COMMONWEALTH: UNITY, DIVERSITY AND COMMON CHALLENGES 62nd COMMONWEALTH PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE London, United Kingdom 11 to 17 December 2016 Opening Ceremony - 14 December 2016
A COLLABORATIVE COMMONWEALTH: UNITY, DIVERSITY AND COMMON CHALLENGES The Chairperson of the CPA Executive Committee, Hon. Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury MP, Speaker of the Parliament of Bangladesh gave the opening address at the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. Master of Ceremony, Hon. Lindiwe Maseko, Commonwealth SecretaryGeneral, Rt Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, SecretaryGeneral of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Honourable Speakers, Deputy Speakers, Honourable Parliamentarians, Honourable Members of the Executive Committee of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, distinguished delegates of 62nd CPC, media representatives, friends, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen, a very good morning to you all. I’m deeply honoured to be here and to have the opportunity to speak before this august gathering as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association. We have all gathered here in London this winter morning to celebrate the inauguration of the 62nd Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference (CPC). We bring with us a deep 6 | The Parliamentarian | 2017: Issue One
commitment to uphold the values of Commonwealth – democracy, development and diversity. It is an aspiration to build a collaborative Commonwealth – unity, diversity and common challenges – echoed in the theme of this conference. Collaboration is more than hosting events together. It is about true exchange of ideas that can offer innovative solutions to our common problems and challenges. A collaborative Commonwealth would therefore denote accommodating diversity. Diversity of people and culture is the strength as well as a source of wealth for us. Commonwealth is the platform to draw upon this diversity and bridge the differences. A collaborative Commonwealth is therefore about creating a common platform to come together to explore diverse ideas and opinions, policies and
programmes. It is about addressing, identifying and facing the common challenges together. It is the diversity of experience that reflects the richness of Commonwealth.
Each Commonwealth country at different stages in its own history and development, when it comes together, it helps to build a trust within the community, within the Commonwealth family of nations, which is the integral