Wednesday 01/29/14 | Mexico City | Press Release 031
Mexico and Canada are commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, which began on January 29, 1944. During this period the two countries have promoted friendship, cooperation, academic and cultural exchanges, economic complementarity, as well as close ties within North America, for the benefit of their peoples.
This year also celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), with more than 18,500 participants involved each year, and the tenth anniversary of the Canada-Mexico Partnership, a mechanism for dialogue that promotes cooperation in the various areas of the bilateral agenda. Additionally, it marks the 20th anniversary of the entry into force of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
Mexico reaffirms its commitment to continue strengthening ties between the two societies and to enhancing cooperation between governments, to better capitalize on common opportunities. To do so, the two nations rely on a comprehensive legal framework and well established institutional channels, which also involve participation by the private sector and societal stakeholders. The strength of the links extends to legislatures as well as to provincial, state and local governments.
Mexico and Canada are each other’s third largest trading partner. According to the import figures reported by each country, total trade in 2012 exceeded 35 billion dollars. Canada is the fourth largest source of foreign direct investment in Mexico and the second largest source of international tourists visiting the country, welcoming more than 1.6 million Canadian travellers in 2012.
Thursday 16.01.14 | Mexico City | Press Release 013
Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, José Antonio Meade, will meet tomorrow in Washington with his counterparts from the United States, John Kerry, and Canada, John Baird.
The region’s foreign ministers have agreed to meet periodically to review the common agenda and shared topics of interest at the hemispheric and global levels.
On this occasion, the meeting will advance preparations for the upcoming North American Leaders’ Summit. The three governments work collaboratively to promote shared prosperity and seize opportunities presented in new areas such as education, science, technology, and innovation.
Secretary Meade will also hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts and participate in a forum for dialogue with members of the Council of the Americas, an entrepreneurial organization that promotes business and development on the continent.
North America generates about 30% of world production and 13.2 % of global exports; it has a total population of around 470 million people.
In the past 20 years, under the North American Free Trade Agreement, intraregional trade has increased by 265%. Last year it surpassed the milestone of one trillion dollars (a million millions).
Press Release No. 003
Mexico City, January 8, 2014
The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs (SRE) informs the public that the first meeting of Mexico-United States Consuls was held today. Participants included the heads of 50 Mexican consulates in the US and 9 US Consulates in Mexico, along with officials from both embassies and Foreign Ministries.
The Mexican delegation was led by the Undersecretary for North America, Sergio Alcocer, and Mexico’s Ambassador to the United States, Eduardo Medina Mora, while the US delegation was led by the Ambassador of the United States to Mexico, Anthony Wayne.
The meeting aimed to identify areas that would benefit from closer collaboration between the consular networks of the two nations.
Participants analyzed priorities in promoting trade, investment and innovation in the two countries, as well as in the spheres of education and culture. Officials agreed to strengthen coordination to convey to both societies the importance of the bilateral relationship, particularly the importance of the common border.
The consuls shared best practices in serving the public, a priority task for both governments. Follow-up was also given to the agreements reached during the latest bilateral consular dialogue, held November 13, 2013 in Washington, DC.
The meeting took place in the context of the 25th Meeting of Mexican Ambassadors and Consuls, as well as the periodic mechanism for United States’ consular coordination in Mexico.
Press Release No. 004
Mexico City, January 9, 2014
The foreign ministers of Chile, Colombia and Peru are in Mexico for a meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Pacific Alliance, and to participate in a panel on this forum in the context of the 25th Meeting of Mexican Ambassadors and Consuls.
The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Chile, Alfredo Moreno Charme; Colombia, María Angela Holguin Cuellar; and Peru, Eda Rivas Franchini; and the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Jose Antonio Meade, met today to review, among other issues, preparations for the summit on the mechanism, to be held in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, this coming February.
At the summit, the leaders of the four countries will sign the Additional Protocol to the Framework Agreement, which establishes the tariff reduction on 100% of the products: 92% to be implemented immediately, another 7% in the short and medium term, and 1% of the tariff reduction will come into effect in the long term in established periods.
The foreign ministers also reviewed actions regarding the free movement of persons and cooperation in the context of the Pacific Alliance, and the challenges faced by this mechanism in the future, such as the link with Asia and third parties, and new issues such as development of infrastructure and stimulus for small and medium enterprises.
This Friday, as part of the 25th Meeting of Ambassadors and Consuls of Mexico, the foreign ministers of Chile, Colombia and Peru, as well as Mexico’s Secretary of the Economy, Ildefonso Guajardo, will participate in a panel moderated by economist Luis Street, where they will discuss the challenges and progress of the Alliance.
The Pacific Alliance was created in 2011 with the aim of enhancing convergence and economic integration among its members. It is a deep integration scheme that is open and inclusive, and that together represents 50% of Latin America's trade with the world and 35% of the region’s GDP.
Press Release No. 002
January 6th, 2014
The Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Jose Antonio Meade called Mexican diplomats to promote reforms and to seek opportunities for Mexico abroad
• The XXV Annual Meeting of Ambassadors and Consuls was inaugurated at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Diplomats, legislators and federal officials revisited Mexican foreign policy priorities
At the opening of the XXV edition of the Annual Meeting of Mexican Ambassadors and Consuls, Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade Kuribreña urged Mexicans diplomats to promote abroad the reforms undertaken by the government of President Enrique Peña Nieto and to vigorously promote the opportunities offered by the Mexican economy.
By fixing the four priority tasks of the Mexican diplomacy during 2014, the Foreign Affairs Secretary also urged ambassadors and consuls to consolidate Mexico as a major international player and to strengthen international cooperation with our country.
"Mexico is now recognized as an emerging economy of global importance, it is also considered a leader in Latin America and the Caribbean, it has proven to be a country aware of its duty towards its citizens and the international community", Meade said.
"All this establishes the basis for Mexico’s international activity as a major global player, committed to peace, international development and to its own welfare as a nation", he pointed out.
The message of Secretary Meade served to formally inaugurate the annual meeting of the Mexican diplomacy, which gathers 65 ambassadors, 56 consuls, 8 representatives before international organization missions, 4 former foreign affairs secretaries, 5 emeritus-ambassadors, and 6 distinguished-ambassadors and 39 retired ambassadors.
Members of the federal cabinet, governors, legislators and prominent national and international speakers will attend the meeting until Friday 10th.
Between now and Wednesday, heads of federal government agencies will explain Mexican diplomats the progress and future tasks related to the five government guiding principles established by President Peña Nieto, in order to achieve an inclusive, prosperous and peaceful Mexico, with quality education and as an actor with global responsibility.
On Thursday and Friday, panels dedicated to analyze priority issues on the international agenda in Mexico will be held, including the projections for the G20, the new opportunities offered by the international environment for education and research, the challenges of the Development Agenda Post- 2015 and the present and future evolution of the Pacific Alliance.
During the opening session of the meeting, in which the president of the Senate, Raul Cervantes Andrade, and the Governor of the State of Mexico, Eruviel Ávila Villegas participated, Secretary Meade took the opportunity to review the achievements of the Mexican diplomacy to deploy Mexico as an actor with global responsibility.
Among the important achievements in 2013, Meade highlighted the consolidation of the Pacific Alliance, the strengthening of relations with the Caribbean and Central America, particularly with Cuba, and the redirection of the bilateral agenda with the United States on education and economic development.
The Foreign Minister also stressed the importance of the decisive approach with China and the strengthening of ties with other countries in Asia – Pacific, as well as the renewed contact with France.
Meade outlined that Mexico builds new spaces for political dialogue with countries like Indonesia, Turkey, South Korea and Australia, the group called MIKTA.
Prior to Secretary Meade’s intervention, Governor Ávila Villegas, as chairman of the International Affairs Committee of the National Conference of Governors (Conago, in Spanish), indicated that Mexico's image in the world has improved, while he stated that state leaders continue to be partners in the task of promoting the country.
Meanwhile, Senator Cervantes Andrade stressed the importance that Mexican diplomats are aware of the constitutional reforms taken place so that they can transmit worldwide in the most profitable way for Mexico.