Phnom Penh:Canada is making 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, the host country.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the remark was made by H.E. Christian DesRoches, Ambassador of Canada to Cambodia, during an interview with state media at Le Royal Hotel on Tuesday afternoon.

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

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

Canada's participation is reflected in concrete initiatives in higher education and culture. On the sidelines of the official meetings, memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed between Canadian and Cambodian institutions, with the support of the Agence universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and Cambodia's Ministry of Education, the Ambassador explained.

Provincial scholarship programs, joint research projects, and student exchanges will further strengthen academic cooperation between the two countries.

Canada's artistic diversity is also being showcased through film screenings, visual arts exhibitions, concerts featuring singer-songwriters, and conferences dedicated to young people. Artists from Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Manitoba are highlighting the country's rich cultural diversity.

'One does not necessarily have to be a Francophone to be a Francophile or to celebrate the Francophonie,' the ambassador said, conveying a warm message to the Cambodian public.

By inviting both French speakers and non-French speakers to take part in the festivities, Canada is underscoring that the Francophonie extends beyond language, embracing 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,' Mr. DesRoches said.