Fiji, Nov. 3 -- Commonwealth Secretary-General Shirley Botchwey has called for urgent reform of the international financial system, saying small states must have better access to affordable financing and debt relief to strengthen their resilience and support sustainable development.

Botchwey said small states continued to face unfair financial pressures despite their vulnerability to climate change, economic shocks and geopolitical tensions.

Addressing the Commonwealth Ministerial Meeting on Small States in Antigua and Barbuda, she said vulnerability must be recognised alongside national income when determining access to concessional financing and assessing debt sustainability.

"The recognition of vulnerability alongside income in dete...