New Delhi, Feb. 5 : Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has underlined the urgency to reform the international institutions and collective action by all governments to deal with the economic downturn.

Sharma, who is currently on a week-long visit to India, was addressing here today a conference on ''India and the Commonwealth: A transforming partnership.'

On the 60th anniversary of the Commonwealth, Sharma dwelt on the current global economic crisis, saying that the meltdown is all pervading which will affect one and all, as every sector of the economy will come in its grip.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the conference, Sharma said that he would meet the sports minister to discuss the upcoming Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

"I am meeting the sports minister tomorrow. I have been meeting him and discussing this earlier also. There''s a lot of enthusiasm about the Commonwealth Games because the Commonwealth Games is one symbol of commonwealth which appeals to the youth immediately and everyone is looking forward to it," Sharma said.

India is hosting the Commonwealth Games for the first time whereas the Games will be staged in Asia for the second time. In 1998, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, had hosted the Commonwealth Games.

However, the 2010 Commonwealth Games will be India's first big International sports event since the 1982 Asian Games. New Delhi had hosted the inaugural Asian Games in 1951 and again in 1982. (ANI)