Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Dublin late Wednesday and is scheduled to attend the European Political Community summit on Thursday before visits to Manila, Phnom Penh and Shenzhen.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Dublin late Wednesday, setting up a four-country trip focused on trade and security engagement across Europe and Asia. Carney departed for Dublin after the Remembrance Day ceremony in Ottawa.
In Ireland, Carney is to attend the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Dublin on Thursday. The meeting is expected to include Canada as the only non-European country at the table for the second time after Carney joined the group’s last meeting in Armenia in May.
The EPC summits have taken place roughly every six months since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with informal talks aimed at strategic co-operation in politics, security and infrastructure. Carney and European Union leaders have discussed Canada becoming an “associate member” of the EU, a designation they have yet to define.
A co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Statecraft, Vina Nadjibulla, said the trip is Canada’s opportunity to move from agreements to implementation. “We’re now entering a much more consequential phase of actually implementing and delivering on all of these agreements, and sustaining the momentum,” she said. “When Prime Minister Carney speaks about diversifying our relationships, it's not just about Europe.”
After Dublin, Carney is scheduled to visit Manila, where the Philippines will host Canada as a guest at the Nov. 15–18 summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The bloc’s focus includes trade, regional peace and international norms, and Carney is expected to be involved as Canada works to finalize negotiations on two trade deals: one with ASEAN and another bilateral deal with the Philippines.
Carney is also scheduled to meet on Saturday with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and is set to address ASEAN leaders on Sunday. Trade Minister Maninder Sidhu and Gender Minister Rechie Valdez, who is of Filipino origin, are to join him during the visit.
Carney’s next stop is Cambodia, where he will attend the Francophonie summit in Phnom Penh set for Nov. 14 to 16. He is expected to meet with leaders from Africa and other regions while in the capital, and Ottawa says it will remain neutral to avoid affecting the election of the next Francophonie leader.
On Sunday at the summit, Carney is scheduled to address CEOs at the FrancoTech innovation event, and on Monday he is set to give plenary remarks. Dominique Caouette, chair of Indo-Pacific studies at the University of Montreal, said the Francophonie summit could help Canada and Quebec advance economic interests and described it as a platform for middle-power diplomacy. “The Francophonie could also serve as a platform for Mr. Carney toward the middle powers,” Caouette said.
In Cambodia, Carney is to be joined by Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand and parliamentary secretary Mona Fortier. Before Carney’s arrival, Governor General Louise Arbour is set to lead Canada’s delegation at the summit.
Carney will then travel to China, where he is scheduled to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen on Nov. 18 and 19. Nadjibulla said APEC’s format allows for bilateral and “minilateral” discussions among leaders in smaller groups. She said APEC meetings have taken on less importance amid diverging interests among Russia, the United States and China.
Nadjibulla said she would be watching for economic announcements during the visit, including potential changes involving market access and investment. She added that any developments could affect trade talks with the United States.
Carney is set to meet Xi Jinping on Tuesday during the visit and address business leaders the next day. He is scheduled to return to Ottawa on Nov. 19.
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