Canada will upgrade its presence in Phnom Penh to a full embassy with resident ambassador in 2025, in line with Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau’s announcement at the 2024 ASEAN Leader’s Summit in Vientiane, Lao PDR.
According to a press release of the Office of the Embassy of Canada to Cambodia, Canada has important history of supporting international efforts to bring peace and stability to Cambodia. Canada estimates that over 1,000 Canadian soldiers have served in Cambodia since 1954.
Canada’s bilateral relations with Cambodia have been significant in recent year. Canada is Cambodia’s 10th largest donor of Overseas Development Assistance at US$23.1 million CAD in 2022-2023. Canada provided the financial assistance required to organise the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (also known as the Ottawa Convention) Review Conference in Siem Reap in November 2024, at which Canada announced an additional US$2.1 million to add to its over US$50 million of support for Cambodia to clear landmines and unexploded ordinance.
Canada is Cambodia’s seventh largest trade partner. In 2023, Cambodia exported US$2.1 billion of merchandise to Canada. Over 60 Canadian business leaders will visit Phnom Penh this May for trade mission.
Cambodia and Canada established their diplomatic relations in 1952, even before Cambodia gained independence from France.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet (L) meets his Canadian counterpart H.E. Justin Trudeau, in Vientiane on Oct. 10, 2024, on the sidelines of the 44th and 45th ASEAN Summits and Related Summits
