Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla were seen posing with Australian Governor-General Sam Mostyn and her spouse Simeon Beckett at Admiralty House in Sydney on Wednesday, in front of the iconic Sydney Opera House. – AFP

King Charles arrived in Samoa on Wednesday, marking his presence ahead of a Commonwealth summit. Critics view the bloc as a remnant of the empire, but the King aims to revitalize it. This year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is set to take place in Apia, Samoa's coastal capital, situated midway between New Zealand and Hawaii. The biennial gathering, which brings together 56 world leaders, is anticipated to draw around 3,000 delegates. Among the most prominent attendees will be King Charles and Queen Camilla, who recently concluded their tour of Australia.

The conference, the first of its kind hosted by a Pacific Island nation, presents an exceptional opportunity to highlight the region, according to Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland. Scotland expressed hope that the summit would strengthen the Commonwealth family, especially as the world faces numerous challenges. 'We have two choices globally. We can either swim together or we can drown separately,' she stated. 'The Commonwealth has never been for drowning. It's always been for fighting.'

The theme of this year's summit, 'One Resilient Common Future,' will focus on discussions about the environment, democratic systems, economy, youth, gender, and digital transformation. Climate change and rising sea levels are expected to dominate the agenda, with leaders set to deliberate on an Ocean Declaration aimed at prioritizing initiatives for a healthy and resilient ocean. The Pacific nations, once seen as paradises, are now among the most climate-threatened regions on the planet. Many communities have been forced to relocate due to rising sea levels.

Samoa has invested significant effort in preparing for the summit, including renovating hotels and implementing a two-month gun amnesty to ensure the safety of attendees. Each Commonwealth country has been paired with a village, decorated in the respective country's colors and national flags. Samoan resident Mata'afa Keni Lesa expressed excitement about showcasing 'the best of our Samoan hospitality.'

While some critics argue that the Commonwealth is irrelevant in a post-colonial era, Scotland refuted this notion, highlighting the bloc's founding principles of friendship, commitment, and integrity. King Charles emphasized the Commonwealth's significant role on the global stage, noting its diversity and ability to formulate practical solutions to world problems. The summit also offers countries a platform to meet without geostrategic anxieties, according to Tess Newton Cain of Griffith University's Asia Institute.

The legacy of empire, however, will be a shadow over the summit, particularly during the selection of a new secretary-general from the African region. The three candidates—Joshua Setipa from Lesotho, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey from Ghana, and Mamadou Tangara from the Gambia—have all publicly called for reparations for slavery and colonialism.

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