PHNOM PENH, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Phnom Penh and China's Beijing entered into an agreement on Monday to establish a "sister cities" relationship.

Phnom Penh Governor Khuong Sreng and Qi Jing, member of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee of Communist Party of China (CPC) and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Beijing Municipal Committee, inked the agreement at the Capital Hall here under the presence of Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo.

Speaking after the signing ceremony, Khuong Sreng said the agreement will further strengthen the all-round cooperation between Phnom Penh and Beijing.

The governor spoke highly of the excellent relations and cooperation between Cambodia and China, and extended his thanks to the government and people of China for always supporting Cambodia in its socio-economic development.

Qi said the agreement was a historic milestone of the development of relationship between the two cities and it was made in the year that the two countries were celebrating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

"From now on, the relationship between the two cities will reach a new development stage," she said, adding that the agreement would open a new chapter for comprehensive and pragmatic cooperation between the two cities.

Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia, is home to approximately 1.5 million people, and it covers the total land of 678 square kilometers. Beijing is one of the most populous cities in the world, with some 21.7 million residents, and it covers the land area of 16,410 square kilometers.