March 24, 2008
Mexican &
Canadian Leaders Speak on Trinational Affairs
Presidency
of the Republic
• North American Leaders' Summit scheduled
for April 21 and 22
March 17 – Mexican President Felipe Calderón
called Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper today. The main aim of this conversation was to exchange points of view and
coordinate strategies for the upcoming North American Leaders' Summit to be held in New Orleans on April 21 and 22.
This
meeting, which will include US President George W. Bush, will permit a review of the progress achieved in the priorities the
leaders of the North American region defined in August 2007, during the summit held in Montebello, Canada, as well as the
agenda for the Security and Prosperity Partnership of North America.
The leaders of Mexico and Canada focused
on the importance of finding a framework to enhance the complementation of the Security and Prosperity strategies aimed at
turning North America into a region with high indices of understanding in order to preserve it as one of the most dynamic,
competitive and safe regions in the world.
They also dealt with priorities that currently guide regional cooperation,
particularly with respect to facilitating border crossings, competitiveness (especially in the automobile sector), cooperation
for dealing with emergencies and environmental protection.
The leaders also mentioned the intense interest in
achieving shared strategies with the North American Council of Competitiveness, to publicize the benefits of cooperation,
trade and investment in this region.
President Calderón and Prime Minister Harper also mentioned the significant
progress in the discussion on Labor Mobility between Mexico and Canada within the Mexico-Canada Alliance, which met on March
4 and 5. The two leaders confirmed their interest in achieving results in this field in the near future as regards to defining
orderly, legal and safe schemes for labor mobility, with full respect for workers' human and labor rights, and the various
areas of the Mexico-Canada Alliance.
They also dealt with issues related to strengthening cooperation between
the two countries, and in coordination with the United States in the event of natural disasters. This issue, which has become
increasingly important in the region, involves complementation plans between the countries to support communities affected
by disasters in North America and other regions.
Lastly, the two leaders commented on the progress in the treatment
of consular affairs that has taken place in the bilateral relationship, in view of the substantial increase in the number
of visitors traveling between the two countries. They acknowledged the work which in some of these highly visible consular
cases is carried out through the Early Alert Group to improve the quality of attention provided.
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(Press
Release: Presidency of the Republic, March 17, 2008, Mexico City)
Translation Presidency of the Republic
