Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit Cambodia this month to attend the 20th Francophonie Summit, which will be held in Phnom Penh on November 15–16. This will be his first visit to Cambodia since taking office as prime minister and his first time attending a Francophonie Summit.
According to information previously shared by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, Canadian Governor General Louise Arbour is expected to attend the summit’s opening ceremony on November 15, while Carney will attend on November 16.
According to the itinerary released by the Canadian government, Carney will visit Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China from November 11 to 19, attending several international meetings with a focus on advancing cooperation in trade, investment, culture and security. During his stay in Cambodia, he will engage with leaders of French-speaking countries and regions to further deepen cooperation between Canada and members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie.
Canada is one of the founding members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and the second-largest institutional donor within the organisation’s system. It provides more than CAD 43 million annually to the relevant institutions, including about CAD 25 million in support of the OIF.
Canada plans to host the next Francophonie Summit in its capital region in 2028, with formal confirmation expected at this year’s summit in Phnom Penh. This would mark the first time in 20 years that Canada has hosted the summit.
After concluding his visit to Cambodia, Carney will also travel to Shenzhen, China, to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders’ meeting. The Canadian government said the trip aims to expand international partnerships, open new markets for Canadian businesses and create more trade and investment opportunities.
