California State Senator Anthony J. Portantino personally delivered an invitation from Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to California Governor Gavin Newsom inviting him to visit Armenia, Asbarez reported.

In September last year, Governor Newsom and Prime Minister Pashinyan met in New York to formalize the historic trade Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between California and Armenia. At the meeting they appeared to develop a positive relationship with each other.

Armenia’s Glendale-based Consul General Armen Baibortian recognized the strong relationship Portantino has engendered both in Yerevan and in Sacramento and asked Portantino to personally deliver the Prime Minister‘s invitation to the Governor.

Following the signing of the MOU, Portantino and Governor Newsom met privately with Prime Minister Pashinyan to discuss increased cooperation between California and Armenia.

“It was a tremendous honor to have had the opportunity to deliver a personal invitation from Prime Minister Pashinyan to Governor Newsom,” Senator Portantino commented. “I was pleased to have first met the Prime Minister in Yerevan last year, in Los Angeles and again in New York. (…). I am very grateful to Governor Newsom for his commitment to strengthening our ties with Armenia and I hope he will one day take up the offer to visit Armenia in person like I have.”