.png)
Sister Cities of Long Beach, Inc.
Promoting “People to People” diplomacy since 1963
Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA
Mission Statement
To promote and expand the effective and mutually beneficial cooperation between the people of Long Beach and the people of Phnom Penh
To promote international goodwill and understanding and improved trade relations between the two cities and their respective nations by the exchange of people, ideas, and information in a wide variety of economic, social, cultural, educational, municipal, environmental, professional, technical, youth and other projects
To foster and encourage charitable, scientific, trade and commerce, literary and educational activities between the two cities.
To preserve ancient fine arts and cultural traditions, i.e. silk weaving, court and fold dance, pin peat music, sculpture, etc., in both cities that were all but destroyed during the years of war.
About the Association
Phnom Penh, Cambodia’s Capital, is a vibrant, bustling city nestled majestically on the banks where three mighty rivers, the Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac, converge and then split apart again at a location known to the Khmers (native people of Cambodia) as Chatomuk, meaning four faces.
The Long Beach/Phnom Penh relationship was initiated in October of 1993, two years after the Paris Peace Treaty. A delegation of government and community leaders met with their counterparts at Phnom Penh City Hall and discussed potential benefits to both cities. Long Beach was chosen because the largest Cambodian population was located there. Cambodia at that time was returning to free and fair elections, poised for economic development.