S. Africa urges Commonwealth members to strengthen links

The South African government on Monday urged members of the Commonwealth to strengthen their links for the benefits of all.

In a statement marking Commonwealth Day, the government said South Africa commemorates the action taken by the organisation to link this family together and to promote Commonwealth values and principles.

"Members of this family must ensure that these links are strengthened to have a positive influence on Commonwealth structures. This will enhance the global profile of the Commonwealth, bring its citizens more closely together and advance the goals of democracy and development," the statement said.

Commonwealth countries as a symbol of their solidarity were celebrating Commonwealth Day on Monday, under the theme "An Inclusive Commonwealth."

The theme provides members with the opportunity to consider the significance of community; the importance of diversity and difference; the question of belonging; the values of tolerance, respect and understanding; and the sense of shared responsibility that exists within the Commonwealth today.

Numerous events and activities around the theme will be taken to commemorate Commonwealth Day in Commonwealth member countries. This will include British Queen Elizabeth II, as Head of the Commonwealth, delivering her Commonwealth Day message and leading a multi-faith observance at Westminster Abbey in London.

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states bound together by a shared language, culture, history and tradition as well as shared values and principles outlined in The Commonwealth Charter.

South Africa took advantage of Commonwealth Day to promote social cohesion and nation-building.

"It remains a major task in our country to reconstruct our fractured and divided past to a more socially and economically inclusive society that is proud of all its cultural expressions. This entails, among other things, mobilising people to act together to enable the birth of a new culture around national symbols and values and create new forms of engagement towards greater unity," the SA Department of International Relations and Cooperation said. Enditem