Malaysia to host 2019 CHOGM

Malaysia will be hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in 2019.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said the matter was contained in a communique issued at the end of the 2013 CHOGM here Sunday.

Speaking to Malaysian journalists, Najib said the Heads of Government of the Commonwealth arrived at the decision after considering bids by members to be the host for the event.

CHOGM 2015 will be held in Malta after Mauritius withdrew, in 2017 it will be in Vanuatu and 2019 in Malaysia, Najib said.

According to the Communique, the heads of government had welcomed and accepted the offer of the Prime Minister of Malta to host the next meeting in 2015.

"They also welcomed the offers of Vanuatu and Malaysia to host the 2017 and 2019 CHOGM respectively," said the Communique.

Malaysia had made its bid to host the 2019 CHOGM during the 2011 CHOGM in Australia.

Najib was reported as saying that the year would be very significant as Malaysia last hosted the CHOGM in 1989, 30 years ago.

In this regard, the Prime Minister said Malaysia would also be hosting two more major conferences which were the ASEAN Summit in 2015 and the 2020 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders' Summit.