The Regional Under Secretary of the Presidency for External Relations will travel to the People's Republic of China from April 18 to 21 to participate in international meetings on migration that will be held in the cities of Shenzhen and Beijing.

"The Azores have been internationally recognised several times by the way how they maintain emotional ties with various communities in the world. Migrants are regarded as an integral and essential part in the socio-cultural development of the islands," said Rodrigo Oliveira. The government official pointed out that "this initiative will, once again, project the importance of the Azores with their Diaspora communities over the years and promote the integration of immigrants and interculturality in the Region."

 The trip to China will begin in Shenzhen, one of the most important cities in this Asian country and the first to host a Special Economic Zone, where Rodrigo Oliveira will participate in the meetings organised by the Metropolis International Steering Committee (ISC) on April 18 and 19. The latter is an international research network aimed at the development of public policies in the areas of migration, diversity and integration of immigrant communities. Currently, it comprises 63 organisations from more than twenty countries in Europe, America and Asia.

 Also in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province of China, the Regional Under Secretary will attend the Conference on International Skilled Migration, organised by the Foreign Expert Affairs Administration of China, and the Roundtable on International Migration, organised by the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel.

 On April 21, Rodrigo Oliveira will participate in the International Forum on Global Migration and Development to be held in Beijing. The event is promoted by the Centre for China and Globalization, an organisation that promotes the study and the discussion in the areas of international migration, globalisation and sustainable development. This organisation has offices in four Chinese cities and representative offices in New York, Washington, London, Frankfurt, Paris and Sydney.

 At the conference, Rodrigo Oliveira will deliver a paper under the panel "The current situation and the future integration of migrants in Europe," together with representatives of Germany, Greece and Luxembourg.

 "The invitation to participate in this panel, held under the International Forum on Global Migration and Development, is of utmost importance, not only because the Azores are the only representative of Portugal but also because it addresses the example of islands and outermost regions in the European Union," stressed the Regional Under Secretary.