As part of his official visit to the Autonomous Region of the Azores, Comendador Anthony Bailey, Honorary Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga to the Portuguese Republic, held an official meeting on 30 June 2026 at the Palácio da Conceição, the headquarters of the Regional Government of the Azores, in Ponta Delgada.
His Excellency José Manuel Bolieiro, President of the Government of the Autonomous Region of the Azores designated two of his senior advisers to receive the Consul-General on his behalf drupe to his absence from the island: His Excellency Pedro de Faria e Castro, Chief of Cabinet to the President of the Government, and Architect Bernardo Brito e Abreu, Adviser to the President of the Government and Coordinator of the internationally recognised Blue Azores Programme.
The meeting took place in a particularly warm and cordial atmosphere and provided an excellent opportunity to exchange views on matters of mutual interest while exploring opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the Kingdom of Tonga and the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Discussions focused on the many similarities shared by Tonga and the Azores as island communities with deep historical, cultural and economic ties to the ocean. Particular attention was given to ocean conservation, sustainable fisheries, marine biodiversity, climate resilience, scientific research, education, the Blue Economy and the sustainable management of marine resources.
Architect Bernardo Brito e Abreu provided a detailed overview of the internationally recognised Blue Azores Programme, a pioneering partnership between the Regional Government of the Azores, the Oceano Azul Foundation and the Waitt Institute. The Programme has become one of Europe’s leading marine conservation initiatives, supporting the establishment and effective management of one of the largest networks of Marine Protected Areas in the North Atlantic while promoting sustainable economic development through the Blue Economy.
Comendador Bailey welcomed the opportunity to learn more about the Programme and highlighted Tonga’s own longstanding commitment to ocean stewardship as one of the world’s largest ocean states and a leading voice among Small Island Developing States. He noted that both Tonga and the Azores share a common vision of balancing marine conservation with sustainable economic development and ensuring the long-term protection of the world’s oceans.
The meeting also explored the possibility of establishing a dedicated organisation to strengthen Portugal’s relations with the Pacific and Oceania. Discussions considered how such an initiative could bring together government, academic, scientific and cultural partners to foster greater understanding and cooperation between Portugal and the Pacific region. Given the Azores’ strategic Atlantic location, internationally recognised expertise in ocean science and marine conservation, and long-standing engagement in international ocean governance, the parties discussed the valuable role that the Regional Government of the Azores could play within such an initiative.
The parties also discussed the possibility of organising a future high-level visit from the Kingdom of Tonga to the Autonomous Region of the Azores to further strengthen bilateral cooperation. Building upon contacts established during the recent international summit in Kenya, they agreed on the importance of maintaining regular dialogue between Tonga and the Regional Government of the Azores, particularly in the fields of ocean governance, marine conservation, scientific research, education, climate resilience and the sustainable Blue Economy.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Comendador Bailey expressed his sincere appreciation to President José Manuel Bolieiro for arranging the meeting through his senior advisers and much look forward to meeting the President personally in the new future in order to continue the constructive dialogue and further strengthen relations between the Kingdom of Tonga and the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
Following the meeting, the Consul-General visited the Núcleo da Autonomia dos Açores, located within the Palácio da Conceição, where he viewed an informative exhibition tracing the development of political autonomy in the Azores, from the democratic reforms of the 1970s to the establishment and evolution of the Autonomous Region.
He subsequently visited the nearby Museu Carlos Machado, one of the Azores’ foremost cultural institutions, where he toured exhibitions showcasing the natural history, cultural heritage and historical development of the archipelago. Together, the two visits provided an excellent introduction to both the political evolution and the rich historical and cultural identity of the Azorean people.
The Consul-General was accompanied throughout the visit by his Personal Assistant, Mr Finn Phillips-Riggs.
Official websites and social media
Regional Government of the Azores
Website: https://portal.azores.gov.pt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GovernoAcores
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/governoacores
Blue Azores Programme
Website: https://blueazores.org
Portuguese website: https://pt.blueazores.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BlueAzores
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueazores
Núcleo da Autonomia dos Açores
Information: https://museucarlosmachado.azores.gov.pt/pt/nucleos
Museu Carlos Machado
Website: https://museucarlosmachado.azores.gov.pt
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/museucarlosmachado
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/museucarlosmachado
