The visit to India is part of Secretary General's customary consultations with major Commonwealth countries in the run-up to the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) being held in Brisbane, Australia, from 6-9 October 2001.

Secretary General's programme includes meetings with Ministers of External Affairs and Finance and an address to a select gathering at the Indian Council of World Affairs, presided over by External Affairs Minister (EAM) on "The Commonwealth Today". During the meeting with EAM, it is expected that the discussion would focus on issues relating to the preparatory process leading up to the next CHOGM as well as the deliberations of the Commonwealth High Level Review Group, which has been established to make recommendations on the future of the Commonwealth in this country. India is a member of this group.

The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) is another important Commonwealth institution whose activities could be discussed during this meeting. CMAG's report to CHOGM on Fiji and Pakistan, both of which are currently suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth, would be particular interest.

The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, of which India is major contributor and which implements the economic and development programme of the Commonwealth, is part of the agenda of discussions with the Finance Minister.

New Delhi
May 4, 2001