Abuja (Nigeria): Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arrived in Nigeria late last night (Dec 4, 2003) to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Governments (CHOGM) summit, which is expected to discuss the current political developments and the economic scenario.

The Prime Minister reached Abuja at about 0.45 hrs (IST) after a long journey of 10 hours and 15 minutes.

He was recieved at the international airport here by a Nigerian Minister and India's High Commissioner Atish Sinha.

Under the special theme "Democracy and Development: Partnership of Peace and Prosperity", the heads of Governments at the summit will discuss wide-ranging issues, including the current political and economic scenario and the activities of the Commonwealth since the Coolum meet, official sources said.

The Summit, to be inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II today, would provide opportunity to ponder over important questions engaging developing democracies as they grapple with the challenges of globalisation.

Vajpayee is scheduled to return on Sunday night.

"Most Commonwealth members are also developing countries with common concerns about development and the promotion of rule-based international trading and investment regimes," Vajpayee said in a statement in New Delhi before emplaning for the Nigerian capital.

Vajpayee said, "As democracies, we have similar transnational threats from terrorism, drug trafficking, arms smuggling and money laundering, all of which are closely interrelated."

The Prime Minister said the summit would provide the occasion for formal and informal bilateral discussions with a number of other world leaders.

PTI