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Political & Economic Relations

Canada has enjoyed friendly relations with Cambodia over many decades, stretching back to the Indochina conflict when Canada participated in the International Control and Supervision Commission established in 1953. These relations intensified with the establishment of a Canadian Embassy in Phnom Penh in 1992 and have grown ever since. They now encompass the full range of political, economic and regional security issues as well as a growing development assistance program and small but promising commercial relations.

As Cambodia has emerged from  decades of conflict and civil war, a major thrust of our relationship has been to assist Cambodians in strengthening democracy. Our focus has been on issues of governance and meeting the basic human needs. To that end, Canada has made a substantial contribution to mine action in Cambodia, enabling people to return to the cultivation of their land in safety. We have supported human rights and good governance efforts also.

At the political level, our relationship has matured with closer cooperation on global and regional security. This cooperation has been particularly fruitful in our common effort to universalize the Ottawa Convention on the ban of landmines. Cambodia has supported international counter-terrorism efforts including the destruction of all Man-Portable Air Defence Systems (MANPADS). Canada, through a Counter-Terrorism Capacity Building Funds, project with the IOM, will be assisting Cambodia to train consular staff in document fraud and interview techniques.

Cambodia's admission to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1999 added another dimension to our bilateral relationship. Canada's Foreign Minister the Honourable Bill Graham was pleased to come to Cambodia for the ASEAN Regional Forum and a bilateral visit in July 2003.

Our bilateral trade has grown immensely with the signature in January 2003 of the Market Access Agreement, which allowed the vast majority of Cambodian goods to enter Canada with no quota or tariffs. Canada is a strong supporter of Cambodia's pro-poor trade approach as part of its overall national poverty reduction strategy. Canada supported Cambodia's hard work in joining the international trading system culminating in its successful admission to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in October 2004..
Canada and Cambodia share a common cultural affinity as members of La Francophonie and together promote linguistic diversity as another means of building links between our respective cultures. Cambodia was a prominent participant in the Jeux de la Francophonie 2001 in Ottawa-Hull, both in sporting competitions and in the cultural events.

A strong element of the bonds that unite Canada and Cambodia is not found at the official level but in the people-to-people links forged by the civil society and by Canadian NGOs dedicated to helping Cambodia on the long road to development. Canadians have established income-generation projects, set up businesses that offer sustainable employment served in international organizations, worked in senior Cambodian government posts, and established human rights NGOs to better protect the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

There are more than 20,000 Canadians of Cambodian origin who are helping to increase the ties between our countries. Canadian visitor numbers are up every year, while more and more Cambodians are travelling to Canada to study. These exchanges are of great benefit to both of our countries.