Najib joins commonwealth leaders for CHOGM retreat

Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak Saturday joined other Commonwealth heads of government for two sessions of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) retreat.

Held at the upmarket hotel, Waters Edge here, the discussion at the retreat among others, would touch on Commonwealth's fundamental values and the global economic situation.

The 2013 Chogm themed 'Growth with Equity: Inclusive Development', kicked off on Friday in a grand-scaled opening ceremony at the Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre before the heads of government left for executive sessions at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH).

Britain's Prince Charles opened the biennial summit.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 member countries consulting and cooperating in the common interests of their people and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace.

About 1.2 billion people live in the Commonwealth.