President of the Government begins official visit to strengthen relations between the Azores and California
The President of the Government begins today an official five-day visit to California with the aim of strengthening the institutional relations between the Azores and this US state, which is home to a large community of Azorean descent.
"Firstly, the visit conveys a message towards the strengthening of this relation between the Azores and California on an institutional level," Vasco Cordeiro said, recalling the twinning relation with the State of California approved by the Azores as well as by the California Senate and House of Representatives.
"At this moment, we are continuing our efforts to give shape to the political relations and to the economic and affective relations with this State, which is home to a very large community of Azorean descent," stressed Vasco Cordeiro. During this visit, the President of the Government will be accompanied by a delegation of the Legislative Assembly.
Speaking to journalists, Vasco Cordeiro stated that, from the standpoint of communities, this visit aims to convey a "very affectionate message towards the maintenance of this close relation and a better knowledge of the Azores of today, especially in terms of strategic investments in cutting-edge areas such as the sea, new technologies and space."
During this official visit, President of the Government will open Wednesday the Portuguese Beyond Borders Institute (PBBI) of California State University - Fresno at the invitation of the President of the University of California - Fresno, Joseph I. Castro.
Besides the opening of this institute aimed at the promotion of Portuguese Culture and Language, with special emphasis on the Azorean Diaspora, the programme includes a meeting with the Vice-Governor of the State of California, Eleni Kounalakis, as well as other institutional meetings with the Azorean communities of Sacramento, Hilmar, Artesia and San Diego.
According to the 2017 American Community Survey, the population of Portuguese origin in the State of California stands at about 345 thousand people, with an estimated 70 percent coming from the Azores.
From the mid-19th century, the Azorean Community has been living in California for several generations. It has maintained countless traditions with the creation of various organisations, namely Holy Spirit Brotherhoods, Philharmonic Bands, Folk Dance Groups, among others, while occupying prominent positions in several sectors of this American State.