Jan 12, 4:27 PM EST
Fox Supports Bush Proposal on Immigration
By DEB RIECHMANN
Associated Press Writer
President Bush has arrived in Mexico for today's start a hemispheric summit -- and some fence-mending with that country's president.
MONTERREY, Mexico (AP) -- President Bush won strong support from Mexican President Vicente Fox on Monday for his new immigration proposals as the two leaders worked to smooth strained relations and pursue broader trade ties.
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AMERICAS_SUMMIT?SITE=DCTMS&SECTION=HOME The leaders seemed eager to overcome past differences. Bush invited Fox to his ranch on March 5-6, and said at one point they were good enough friends to disagree "without the loss of friendship."
Bush said that both he and Fox were committed to free trade and that trade between the two countries had grown over the past decade - the lifespan of the North American Free Trade Agreement - from $100 billion to $232 billion.
Fox said Mexico had the lowest unemployment rate in the Americas, and he attributed that to the NAFTA treaty with the United States and Canada. "Trade undoubtedly reduces poverty. Trade among countries promotes human capital," he said.