The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations, Rodrigo Oliveira, welcomed Canadian Member of Parliament Andrew Cash at an audience held on Monday. The Azorean government official conveyed the "satisfaction of the Government of the Azores" with the visit of the President of Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group to the Azores.

"MP Andrew Cash starts his visit to our country in the Azores, which evidences the importance and consideration given by Canadian federal institutions, particularly of its Parliament, towards the Azorean community in Canada," stated Rodrigo Oliveira, who spoke at the end of the audience that was held at the Conceição Palace in Ponta Delgada.

The Regional Under Secretary noted that several topics of common interest in the relations between the Azores and Canada were addressed during the meeting, “with special emphasis on the importance of the vast Azorean communities, the celebration of 60 years of emigration to Canada and other matters of considerable relevance and potential."

According to Rodrigo Oliveira, "the Canadian market and Azores Tourism as well as the relations between the European Union and Canada in the area of trade and research in the Atlantic" were other subjects under discussion at this meeting.

MP Andrew Cash, elected by the Canadian constituency with the highest percentage of Portuguese residents - Davenport, province of Ontario - is the President of Canada-Portugal Parliamentary Friendship Group, reactivated in 2012, under which he began his visit to Portugal on Monday.