Former deputy governor Pa Socheatvong was officially appointed on Friday as the governor of Phnom Penh, the capital and largest city of Cambodia, to replace the retired governor Kep Chuk Tema.

The appointment was announced by deputy Prime Minister and interior minister Sar Kheng.

Speaking at the ceremony, Pa Socheatvong pledged to continue development plans laid out by his predecessor and vowed to strengthen security and public order through intensifying crackdown on offences.

He also expressed his desire to increase cooperation between Phnom Penh and other cities in the region and the world.

Phnom Penh is home to about 2.2 million people. It is the nation's center of politics, diplomacy, economics, culture, and education.

Prime Minister Hun Sen said last month that 10 cities and provinces out of the kingdom's 24 cities and provinces would get new governors as current governors got retired, sick, or were assigned to new tasks.

In Cambodia, the governors are appointed by the Prime Minister with the endorsement from King Norodom Sihamoni.

A governor's term is four years and the retiring age is 60.