Khmer Times ៖ Canada is committed to upgrading its office in Cambodia to a full embassy with a resident ambassador in Phnom Penh in 2025, in line with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s announcement at the 2024 ASEAN Leaders’ Summit in Vientiane, Laos.
The Office of the Embassy of Canada to Cambodia highlighted this in a press release yesterday when describing Canada’s longstanding commitment to supporting international efforts for peace and stability in Cambodia.
“Canada estimates that over 1,000 Canadian soldiers have served in Cambodia since 1954,” the embassy said.
One of Canada’s most notable contributions was its involvement in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) from 1992 to 1993.
Canada provided military personnel and financial assistance to support Cambodia’s transition to democracy and the implementation of the 1991 Paris Peace Agreements.
The announcement came shortly after the Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS Ottawa docked in Sihanoukville and was warmly welcomed by the Royal Cambodian Navy over the weekend.
“HMCS Ottawa is visiting Cambodia from February 1-4 to develop ties, to demonstrate an enduring defence commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, and to enhance Canada’s role as a trusted international partner,” the Canadian Embassy’s statement read.
Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Chum Sounry could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Canada date back to 1952, even before Cambodia gained independence from France. Canada has been a significant development partner to Cambodia, ranking as the country’s 10th largest donor of Overseas Development Assistance (ODA).
In the fiscal year 2022-2023 alone, Canada provided approximately $23.1 million in ODA.
Additionally, Canada played a crucial role in facilitating the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (Ottawa Convention) Review Conference in Siem Reap in November 2024, financially supporting the event and committing an additional $2.1 million to Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to clear landmines and unexploded ordnance. This contribution adds to Canada’s cumulative support of over $50 million for Cambodia’s demining initiatives.
Economic ties between the two nations have also been expanding. Canada is Cambodia’s seventh-largest trading partner, with Cambodia exporting $2.1 billion worth of goods to Canada in 2023.
Strengthening these trade relations, over 60 Canadian business leaders are expected to visit Phnom Penh in May for a trade mission.
The upcoming establishment of Canadian embassy in Phnom Penh signals Canada’s growing engagement in Southeast Asia and reinforces its commitment to diplomatic, economic, and development cooperation with Cambodia, said Chheng Kimlong, president of the Asian Vision Institute (AVI).
“When two nations enter a full mode of bilateral ties, they are showing political trust towards one another,” he said. “It is a very good sign for the future of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Canada.”
Another positive aspect, Kimlong added, is that the upgrade shows that both Canada and Cambodia are showing great interest in each other’s roles in their respective regions as well as regarding international affairs.
“Cambodia has been an active actor in Southeast Asia as well as the Asia-Pacific and even plays leading roles in several fields, which appears to draw the attention of the Canadian government, which is now looking to expand international connectivity amid the Trump Administration’s protectionist policies in the US,” he said. “Meanwhile, Cambodia is also seeing more and more importance of its relations with Canada to expand its connection in North America.”
Kimlong added that the upgrade of Cambodian-Canada diplomatic relations will lead to the expansion of their cooperation and partnership in trade and economics, culture, security, and so on.
