Canada is establishing a strong presence at the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh, demonstrating its deep commitment to the values of the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) and its determination to strengthen longstanding ties with Cambodia.

Canadian Ambassador to Cambodia Christian DesRoches outlined Ottawa’s focus during an interview with state media at Le Royal Hotel on Tuesday.

In line with the theme promoted by Cambodia, Canada is emphasising the urgent need to reinvest in peace, DesRoches said. Against a global backdrop of increasingly fragile international balances, he stressed the critical importance of renewing spaces for dialogue.

The summit also offers a major opportunity to deepen bilateral cooperation between Canada and Cambodia, particularly in economic, cultural and political fields, building on relations firmly established since the 1991 peace agreements, the ambassador emphasised.

Canada’s participation includes concrete initiatives in higher education and culture. On the sidelines of official meetings, memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed between Canadian and Cambodian institutions, supported by the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie and Cambodia’s Ministry of Education, DesRoches explained.

Provincial scholarship programmes, joint research projects and student exchanges will further strengthen academic cooperation between both nations.

Canada’s artistic community is showcasing film screenings, visual arts exhibitions, concerts featuring singer-songwriters and youth conferences. Artists from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and Manitoba are highlighting the country’s cultural diversity.

“One does not necessarily have to be a Francophone to be a Francophile or to celebrate the Francophonie,” DesRoches said, conveying a message to the Cambodian public.

By inviting French speakers and non-French speakers alike to take part in the festivities, Canada is underscoring that the organisation extends beyond language to embrace universal values of peace, good governance, democracy and intercultural dialogue.

“Canada will have the honour of hosting the 21st Francophonie Summit in 2028 in Ottawa, its federal capital,” DesRoches said. AKP

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