TIJUANA – The commander of the U.S. Navy Region Southwest pledged closer cooperation with Tijuana's municipal government Friday on a range of issues, including emergency management, security, transportation and the environment.

In a City Hall ceremony, Rear Adm. Len Herring and Tijuana Mayor Jorge Ramos signed an agreement reaffirming ties between the city and the six-state naval region, with 75,000 active-duty personnel and 15,000 reservists.

“We need to establish those relationships that have not been as strong in the past couple of years,” Herring said following the agreement's signing inside the mayor's offices. “This has far exceeded my expectations.”

Ramos said the accord also reinstates a community service program that brings servicemen to work on projects in needy sections of his city.

Herring said Navy personnel regularly visit Tijuana, and some make their homes in the city. Herring's staff has been communicating with Tijuana officials, but the agreement serves to strengthen and formalize the relationship.

The signing preceded festivities at City Hall for Tijuana's 119th birthday, where the admiral and his staff were guests of honor.