The
Commonwealth is an association
of 54 independent countries and
their people. Her Majesty Queen
Elizabeth II is the Head of the
Commonwealth. The Commonwealth
has no charter but as an
informal grouping. It enables
countries in different regions
of the world, consisting of
different races and representing
a number of interests, to
exchange opinions in a friendly
and intimate atmosphere. Amongst
others, its aims are to promote
international peace and order,
equal right for all citizens and
help to achieve a fairer global
society.
The Heads of Government in 1965
established the Commonwealth
Secretariat and it works under
the direction of Commonwealth
governments. The Secretariat,
which is headed by the Secretary
General, co-ordinates the work
of the association organises
intergovernmental consultations,
services Commonwealth meetings
and committees conduct
programmes of co-operation and
disseminates information.
Brunei Darussalam's role in
Commonwealth
With Brunei Darussalam's
traditional ties with Great
Britain; it became the 49th
member of the Commonwealth
immediately on the day of its
independence on 1st January
1984. The Commonwealth has
provided Brunei Darussalam
opportunities to pursue and
promote its foreign policy
objectives in a multilateral
forum. His Majesty the Sultan
and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei
Darussalam, in his speech during
the 1999 Durban Commonwealth
Heads of Government Meeting,
among others stated that no
country was untouched by the
forces of globalisation and
Brunei Darussalam was no
exception. The question was not
how we could be protected from
globalisation but rather how we
could maximize its benefits and
minimize its cost. His Majesty
also stated that the
Commonwealth has already made
mechanism in the form of the
Commonwealth Fund for Technical
Cooperation (CFTC) and we
strongly supported the fund and
its activities.
Since joining the Commonwealth,
Brunei Darussalam attended every
Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM) respectively
held in Nassau in 1985,
Vancouver in 1987, Kuala Lumpur
in 1989, Harare in 1991,
Limmasol in 1993, Auckland in
1995, and Edinburgh in 1997 in
Durban, South Africa in 1999 and
Coolum, Australia 2 - 5 March
2002. These meetings have
provided a useful platform not
only in discussing international
issues but also in promoting
bilateral relations. Our
relevant Ministers have also
attended the Commonwealth
meetings in areas of education,
finance, health, law, women and
youth. Brunei Darussalam
participated in the Commonwealth
Games for the first time in New
Zealand in February 1989
followed by the Commonwealth
Games in Canada in August 1994
and in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.
Brunei Darussalam has gained
benefits from assistance and
training provided by the
Commonwealth in the areas of
trade, industries and human
resources development. Most of
the activities are conducted
through the Commonwealth Fund
for Technical Cooperation (CFTC).
It has also benefited from other
activities organised by the
Commonwealth Science Council (CSC),
Commonwealth of Learning (COL),
Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP),
Commonwealth Foundation, Women
and Development Programmes. |