Malta's call for a reform of the Commonwealth is gaining ground and support, Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma told Prime Minister Joseph Muscat during a meeting held in New York.

Dr Muscat said the reform's aim for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (the CHOGM summit), which Malta will be hosting next year, is to develop a more focused position with the participation of the Heads of State. Dr Muscat expressed satisfaction that talks on the subject were currently underway.

The two also discussed preparations underway in Malta for next year's CHOGM.

The Prime Minister also discussed the summit during a meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is the Commonwealth chairman. Malta will be assuming the chairmanship of the Commonwealth next year.

President Rajapaksa agreed that Commonwealth meetings should be more strategic and promised Sri Lanka's assistance in this respect. Support for Malta's proposals was also expressed by New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Murry McCully during another bilateral meeting.

Dr Muscat also explained Malta's position on the proposed reform of the Commonwealth during a meeting held with other Commonwealth heads of government.