Queen Elizabeth II opens Commonwealth meeting in Malta

Queen Elizabeth II talks with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during a Heads of Government reception at the San Anton Palace in Malta.

Mr Trudeau went on to recount the Queen’s past visits to Canada, including in Ottawa when she signed the Constitution Act in 1982.

At this meeting, the Commonwealth will be charged with demonstrating leadership, often in practical ways, on an agenda of global issues and drawing on the distinctive contribution of our members. “Human beings are destroying nature”.

“Billions of dollars will need to become trillions of dollars”, he insisted, with an “estimated 90 trillion dollars needed for infrastructure development alone over the next 15 years, in order to have any hope of keeping us in a world only 2.0 degrees warmer”.

Mr Ban said people around the world were urging their leaders to strike an ambitious agreement.

The event, which brings together 53 Heads of State and government from across the globe, could have an influence on the Paris Summit on climate change, scheduled to take place a week later.

A new secretary-general will be officially chosen during the meeting. He offered best wishes to ne Chair in Office, Malta Premier Joseph Muscat.

There’s been speculation that former coalition foreign minister Alexander Downer could be given the post. The allegations had been known in diplomatic circles for some time but their public disclosure was timed to cruel his bid.

They also exchanged views on issues of global and regional importance, including the security situation in Middle East.

In his opening remarks, Dr Muscat said fighting against radicalisation was a priority for Commonwealth nations.

He also called for a united front against extremists and urged the British Parliament to support military action against the Islamic State group in Syria. “We do have a responsibility to act now”, he said. This positive force of engagement by young people acting for young people is so much of what the Commonwealth is about and aspires to be.

Prince Charles, the 67-year-old heir to the British throne, is attending the summit with his mother but will not automatically succeed her as Commonwealth leader. The theme for this year 2015 meeting is Adding Global Value.

The Queen said she had come to live in Malta with her husband Prince Philip in 1949 when he was stationed there with the Royal Navy, the same year the Commonwealth was founded.

The Queen and Duke will also visit Heritage Malta – in the village of Kalkara – to see a collection of historical paintings, books and textiles.