After her visit to France and Germany, the Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern went to London for CHOGM. She had a very busy day. Along with other CHOGM members, there was a meeting with the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, first.
She also had a meeting with the British Prime Minister, Teresa May. New Zealand is concerned about the impact of Brexit on our trade and raised this matter with Mrs May. They also discussed issues of global importance, especially security.
Then Jacinda Ardern and her partner, Clarke Gayford, met Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall. Earlier today, Ms Ardern and her partner had a private audience with the Queen.
At the opening banquet for CHOGM, Ms Ardern was chosen to make a toast to the Commonwealth. She said that members had an important role to play on the world stage as a strong voice together on key issues. These issues she mentioned were climate change, clean oceans and working towards an inclusive, democratic, prosperous future.
At this formal banquet, she wore a long gown and a korowai, a beautiful Maori cloak.
Vocabulary
• CHOGM – Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
• Brexit – Britain exits from the EU
• impact (n) – the effect
• global (adj) – world
• audience (n) – this is a special meaning used for an invitation to meet the Queen or the Pope
• banquet (n) – formal dinner for a special occasion
• a toast (n) – people raise their glasses and drink to the good health of someone or in this case, the Commonwealth
• the world stage – the word ‘stage’ is a metaphor to show the centre of attention
• inclusive (adj) – including everyone, rich and poor, people of different cultures and races
• prosperous (adj) – rich, doing well