The Regional Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations highlighted in Ponta Delgada the "strength" of the Azorean community in the United States of America.
 
Rui Bettencourt spoke at the end of a hearing with a delegation from the State of Rhode Island that is visiting the Azores. On the occasion, he stressed that this delegation consisted of officials, senators and the Mayor of Providence. Among them, there are 2nd and 3rd generation Azoreans, some of whom were born in the Azores, while others members are not of Azorean ancestry. Nevertheless, they "are clearly aware that the Azorean community exerts influence and plays an important role in its affirmation."
 
"We have here all the ingredients of the Diaspora of the Azorean people that play an important role in its affirmation and efforts undertaken as well as in the projection of the Azores" said the Secretary for External Relations.
 
Moreover, the government official also stated that they were "assessing the situation of the Azores of today." In fact, he had the opportunity convey them how the Azores are, how they are functioning, their projects for the future and also their ties to the Diaspora as well as the desire to create an Azorean Diaspora Council "so that the Azoreans in the world can join and contribute to the future of the Azores."
 
For the Regional Secretary, the outcome of this visit is positive, not only for their enjoyment in visiting the Region but also for what they have found in terms of quality of life and the way of life of the Azoreans, and the Region's ties to the Azoreans living in the Diaspora.
 
"It was a very healthy and very important exchange of views," said Rui Bettencourt. In this regard, he added that "there is also a promise of cooperation, namely in the exchange of Azorean youth from the Azores in initiatives taking place in Providence and also of Azorean youth from Providence for the Azores."