Portuguese Prime Minister Visits California, Meets With Gov. Brown To Boost Ties

SACRAMENTO (AP) -- Portugal's prime minister and other officials are visiting the California state Senate to boost ties between the two governments.

Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins said Thursday that California has the largest population of Portuguese Americans, at more than 300,000 people. She says California and Portugal are signing a memorandum of understanding on clean energy. Its details weren't immediately available.

Two Portuguese regions have already signed onto an international commitment to reduce carbon emissions helmed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Atkins is praising Prime Minister Antonio Costa for resisting the rise of "radical nationalist parties" seen in other parts of Europe.

He says he wants California companies to see Portugal as a good place to do business because it is "open to the world, peaceful and stable."

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press.

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