Ottawa (Rajeev Sharma): Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will undertake a nine-day international tour from November 11 to 19, visiting Ireland, the Philippines, Cambodia and China as Ottawa seeks to broaden its economic partnerships, secure new markets and attract investment.
During the visit, Carney will represent Canada at four major international gatherings, with discussions expected to cover trade, investment, cultural cooperation and security. The tour reflects the government’s effort to diversify Canada’s international relationships amid changing global economic conditions.
The first stop will be Dublin, where Carney will participate in the Summit of the European Political Community. Canada and the European Union have recently launched the Alliance for the Future and are working towards Canada’s potential membership as the EU’s first Associate Member. The initiative is intended to expand commercial opportunities, reduce costs for families and strengthen exchanges in education and employment.
From Ireland, the Prime Minister will travel to Manila to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit as Guest of the Chair. A key objective will be to advance negotiations on the ASEAN-Canada free trade agreement, which the Canadian government says could unlock more than $3.5 billion in exports to the region.
Carney will also seek to conclude negotiations on a separate free trade agreement between Canada and the Philippines. According to the government, the proposed deal could help triple trade between the two countries by 2035.
Francophone cooperation and China partnership on agenda
The next destination will be Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where Carney will attend the Sommet de la Francophonie. The visit is expected to strengthen Canada’s engagement with French-speaking countries ahead of Canada’s role as host of the summit in 2028.
The final leg of the tour will take Carney to Shenzhen, China, for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Ottawa says the visit will build on a Strategic Partnership launched with China over the past year. The Canadian government estimates that the partnership is opening more than $7 billion in export market opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers.
Carney said Canada would focus on strengthening its domestic capabilities while developing relationships with international partners.
“Canada has what the world wants: the energy, the resources, the talent, the technology, and the capital,” the Prime Minister said, adding that the country was working to unlock its economic potential through stronger partnerships abroad.
The November tour places trade negotiations and market diversification at the centre of Canada’s engagement with Europe and the Indo-Pacific region.
