United Mexican States President Vicente Fox ended his three-day visit to the United States on September 6.
The visit, the first by President Fox to the US under the Bush Administration, was marked with a series of discussions on immigration and trade. In a joint statement from both Presidents, the White House categorized the discussions as “frank.”
“This first state visit of the Bush Administration highlights the mutual trust and respect between our two Presidents and governments. It also testifies to the unequaled priority both Presidents attach to a practical and cooperative approach to the common opportunities and challenges we face as the well-being and prosperity of our peoples becomes increasingly intertwined in our shared North American community,” the White House said. “This results-oriented approach, and the commitment to shared responsibility and partnership undergirding it, are already generating unprecedented levels of cooperation throughout our rich and diverse relationship.”
Presidents Bush and Fox met with faculty, students and community groups at the University of Toledo in Toledo, Ohio on Thursday.
“We just had a really good visit in Washington. It was a commitment to friendship. It’s important for my fellow Americans to understand my foreign policy, and it starts with this: Good foreign policy says you want your neighborhood to be peaceful and prosperous,” President Bush said. “A good foreign policy starts with being friends with your neighbors. We’re friends with our neighbors to the North, and we’re very good friends with our neighbors to the South, the Mexicanos.”
Immigration discussions between the Presidents included possible ways of dealing with the issue, to ensure that it is, in the words of the White House, “safe, orderly, legal and dignified, and agreed on the framework within which this ongoing effort is based.” Possible solutions discussed include matching willing workers with willing employers, respecting the human dignity of all migrants, regardless of their status and shared responsibility for ensuring migration takes place through safe and legal channels.
“Oh, I know there’s a lot of talk about Mexican laborers coming to the United States. There are mothers and dads in Mexico who love their children just as much as mothers and dads in America do. And if there is a mother or dad who can’t find work, worried about food on the table, they’re going to come and find work in America,” President Bush said. “And what we want to do is to have a trading relationship that encourages job creation in America, but job creation in Mexico, as well. We’re talking about migration issues. It’s a complex subject, but one that this country of ours must confront and have an open dialogue about. And we’ve made good progress on that important issue.”
President Fox recounted success stories of immigrants, and commended America on its policy of immigration.
“How many stories could be told of the lives of so many Mexican men and women who, one day, decided to leave their country, to come here seeking new opportunities in this great nation. How many stories of hard work and of sacrifice. One of these is the story of Rosario Marin, an exemplary Mexican who came to this nation at the age of 14 and who recently was appointed Treasurer of the United States of America,” President Fox said. “We are proud of her efforts and her success, as well as we are proud of all Mexican women that work day by day in this country, and that contribute to its greatness and to its success. This land of opportunity, the United States, has always kept its door open to countless immigrants from all over the world, remaining true to its founding principles.”
Trade and investment between the United States and Mexico is at record levels, the White House says. They stressed the need to abide by the provisions of our free trade agreement and agreed to the importance of vigorous measures to ensure that the full benefits of economic development and trade are extended to all regions of Mexico.
“I’ve seen it firsthand; trade between Mexico and the United States has grown to a quarter of a trillion dollars. That means jobs in the United States and as importantly, that means jobs in Mexico. There’s a lot of discussion about trade,” President Bush. “I can’t tell you how hopeful trade is and how important it is. It’s not only important for job-seeking Americans, it’s incredibly important for Mexico to grow and to prosper, to develop a middle class for people in Mexico to be able to find work close to home.”
