WITH apologies to “Four Weddings and a Funeral”, I wish to highlight “Four Summits and a Circuit”.

1. The NATO 2014 Summit: September 4 to 5, 2014 - was an enormous success for Newport, with over 60 world leaders and global media focusing on our city. It has been acknowledged that the Joint Expeditionary Force agreement signed at the summit will give reference to ‘Newport agreement’ throughout the coming years.

We will forever have a generation of school children from Mount Pleasant primary school, who will tell of the day President Obama visited their school.

Newport and Wales will forever have the endorsement of the President of the United States to “visit Newport, to visit Wales”

2. The Newport Summit: November 7, 2014 - saw a gathering of civic and business people from across the City, a diverse range of interests and talents who met united in creating the not only the best economic future for Newport; but also how we can enhance the leisure and social facilities of our city.

3. UK Investment Summit Wales 2014: November 21, 2014 - commenced with the announcement of almost 400 new jobs created within Newport and Torfaen, ranging from a contact centre to hi-tech research and development.

4. InterAction Council: June 2 to 5, 2015 - will be a summit attended by statesmen including former Prime Minister of Ireland Bertie Ahern, former President of the United States, Bill Clinton and former UK Prime Minister, John Major.

Unlike with the NATO summit, they are spending a week in our area and intent to take part in outreach events in the community.

The Circuit of Wales: set to become Britain’s first purpose-built motorcycle Grand Prix circuit, in Ebbw Vale on the door-step of our city and another opportunity for generating economic and tourism within our region.

It is scheduled to hold the British round of the FIM MotoGP World Championship until 2024. An event that will be broadcast to over 200 countries and territories worldwide, as well as attracting 250,000 people over the race weekend.

Visitors to these events will sustain our hotels, catering and leisure industries; they will drive forward infrastructure improvements and draw global attention on the quality of our City and South East Wales. They will also create employment opportunities and enhance the quality of life in all our communities.

I believe a new chapter in the history of Newport and South East Wales is about to begin.