The agreement was reached during the talks between Prime Minister Hun Manet and Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau on the margins of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits in Vientiane on October 10.
During the meeting, Trudeau informed Mr Hun Manet that Canada will re-open its embassy in Phnom Penh city in the near future. He also plans to send a Team Canada Trade Mission (TCTM) to the Kingdom next year under Canada’s Indo-Pacific Strategy.
The Canadian Prime Minister welcomed Cambodia’s selection to host the ‘20th Sommet de la Francophonie’ in 2026’ and committed to cooperating on reinforcing common values shared by the Francophone community, including promoting peace, democracy and human rights.
Mr Hun Manet welcomed Canadia’s enhanced diplomatic representation in the Kingdom. He informed his Canadian counterpart that Cambodia also plans to open its embassy in Ottawa, Canada shortly.
A press release by the Canadian government said the two Prime Ministers discussed about how the deepening trade links between Canada and Cambodia would benefit from the Canada-ASEAN free-trade agreement, helping drive prosperity and create jobs in both countries and across the region.
Both leaders emphasised the importance of holding regular meetings of the mechanism in order to deepen cooperation and explore ways to generate mutual benefits from the vast potential and economic opportunities of the two nations.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Emily Yu, Chairwoman of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (CanCham) said, “We are thrilled to hear about Canada’s decision to open an embassy in Phnom Penh.”
She emphasised that this strategic move will strengthen our diplomatic and economic ties with Cambodia, particularly well-timed for TCTM to the Kingdom in 2025.
Emily said, “For Canada, as a country of immigrants, many of whom hail from Asia, it is imperative it seeks to diversify trade and increase cultural dialogue with Cambodia, particularly on the wave of astounding growth in the South Pacific region over the past decade and for decades to come.”
