Phnom Penh has been the capital of Cambodia since the days of French colonization. It is a vibrant, bustling city nestled majestically on the banks of three mighty rivers, and has grown to become an economic and cultural center for all of Cambodia. Long Beach is home to approximately 20,000 Cambodian Americans, the largest Cambodian population outside of Southeast Asia. The Long Beach/Phnom Penh relationship was initiated in October of 1993, two years after the Paris Peace Accords officially ended the Cambodian-Vietnamese War. 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.