Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan arrived in the United States on a working visit. The Premier’s working visit kicked off in the city of Los Angeles.

Nikol Pashinyan and his spouse Anna Hakobyan visited the Los Angeles City Hall, where they met with representatives of California State and Los Angeles city authorities and Los Angeles City Hall members.

The Premier first met with Lieutenant Governor of California Eleni Kounalakis. Mrs. Kounalakis welcomed Pashinyan’s visit to the United States, highlighting the fact that the visit had kicked off in California. She expressed conviction that it would help develop the Armenia-California partnership.

The Lieutenant Governor of California complimented Pashinyan on the victory of the peaceful, velvet revolution, which reset Armenia toward the path of democratic development. She emphasized that the Velvet Revolution is a vivid evidence and example of democracy amid the emerging global challenges threatening democracy.

Thankful for the warm welcome and appreciation, the Armenian Prime Minister said he was happy to be in California, which is home to one of the largest Armenian Diaspora communities. “We want to strengthen our democracy economically, and the cooperation with our democratic partners, including the United States, will contribute to the fulfillment of our goals,” Prime Minister Pashinyan said.

The Prime Minister of Armenia noted that California is among those U.S. states having more innovative economy, which holds leading positions in the world in terms of technological achievements, while as a county having the high-tech industry as a priority, Armenia attaches great importance to the furtherance of cooperation with California.

Nikol Pashinyan made a point of his upcoming meeting with the Governor of California in New York, noting that the signing of an agreement following their meeting, as well as the documents to be signed during the U.S. visit would provide a solid basis for closer Armenian-American interaction.

The parties exchanged views on the Armenian Prime Minister’s scheduled journey to the Silicon Valley, the development of democracy, Armenia’s economic progress, and the prospects of cooperation in technologies, tourism, education, and other areas of mutual interest.

The Lieutenant Governor noted that during her recent visit to Armenia, she called at the TUMO Center for Creative Technologies, the American University of Armenia and was impressed with what she had seen there. Nikol Pashinyan said TUMO is an Armenian brand that will expand its network across the globe, adding that a similar center had recently been inaugurated in Paris to be followed by Moscow, Berlin and other cities.

The Premier expressed gratitude to Californian authorities for the efforts aimed at raising public awareness on the recognition and condemnation of the Armenian Genocide.

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Later on, Prime Minister Pashinyan met with Supervisor of Los Angeles Country’s 5th District Kathryn Barger, Country’s Senate member Anthony Portantino and the Los Angeles city council members.

Kathryn Barger and Anthony Portantino welcomed the Armenian Prime Minister’s visit to California and Los Angeles, stating that it was a good opportunity to discuss cooperation prospects. They noted that the Armenian community of Los Angeles plays a significant role in the county’s public, political and cultural life, and that the city authorities are keen to strengthen the partnership ties with Armenia.

During the meeting with the Los Angeles city council members, Nikol Pashinyan said Armenia has embarked on the path of democracy and reform since the Velvet Revolution, and the U.S. support of reforms is crucial in this regard.

In conclusion, the Premier toured the Los Angeles city hall to get acquainted with the building’s architecture and history.