The President of the Government, Vasco Cordeiro, met with the Governor of California, Jerry Brown, in Sacramento. The meeting addressed the importance of the Azorean community in California, which accounts for over 70 percent of the Portuguese presence in this state.

  "We believe that the emotional ties between the Azores and California, being the result of the presence of many Azorean descendants in this state, are very important as well as the current political relation. The latter has been reinforced by the existence of a twinning agreement between the Azores and California since 2002," said Vasco Cordeiro. The President of the Government spoke at the end of the meeting that was held Tuesday at the Capitol of the State of California. The meeting was also attended by the Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Rodrigo Oliveira, and U.S. congressman of Azorean descent - Jim Costa.

"We want to develop and enhance this political and affective relation, emphasising the relevance of the Azores as a gateway to the European Union and as a place of excellence for the development of cutting-edge areas, such as renewable energies or the commercial use of areas related to marine sciences," added the President of the Government.

At this meeting, which marked the beginning of the visit of Vasco Cordeiro's visit to California, the President of the Government conveyed to the Governor of California some aspects concerning the current reality of the Azores at an economic, social and political level.

On Tuesday afternoon, Vasco Cordeiro established contacts with several members of congress and state senators, including Toni Atkins, the majority leader of the California State Assembly. He also attended meetings held by this House and the California Senate.

The meetings were halted in order to announce the presence of the President of the Government of the Azores, which aroused curiosity among the majority of congress members.

Today, Vasco Cordeiro will have an audience with the President of the California Senate, Darrell Steinberg. He will then travel to San José, where will meet with Azorean citizens from Silicon Valley, members of the Prestige Network, entrepreneurs and members of the Young Portuguese American of California. After these meetings, the President of the Government will preside over a dinner with the local Azorean community.