Human rights, economy focus of Commonwealth summit

Human rights, food security and economic growth will head up the agenda at a major meeting of Commonwealth nation leaders in Australia.

Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd said Wednesday that the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will focus on global resilience amid uncertain economic conditions, climate change and other challenges. The meeting begins Friday in the Western Australia city of Perth.

Mr. Rudd says Commonwealth leaders are watching how officials in Europe deal with the debt crisis there. Rudd says the European leaders’ decisions will have a major impact across the world.

Queen Elizabeth II will officially open the meeting. All countries represented at the forum are former British colonies, except for Mozambique and Rwanda.