Governor Schwarzenegger, Mexico President Fox Discuss Pressing Cross-Border Issues at Historic Visit

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver today welcomed Mexico President Vicente Fox and his wife, Marta Sahagún de Fox, to California. The President's visit to the Golden State is the last leg of a three-state visit to the United States.

The Governor and President met in private for ten minutes in the Governor's office and a larger meeting was held immediately afterward that included advisors to both the Governor and President.

The leaders discussed a variety of issues, including ways to increase the already robust business between California and its largest export trading partner. California exported $17.7 billion of goods and services to Mexico last year and Mexican imports to the state totaled $24.2 billion. At President Fox's invitation, Governor Schwarzenegger pledged to travel to Mexico as soon as possible for a trade mission aimed at strengthening those already robust economic ties.

In addition to discussing environmental issues that California and Mexico have joined forces on, there was also a frank conversation about border security and immigration issues.

The Governor repeated his belief that immigration and border security are federal issues that both the United States and Mexican federal governments can - and must - do more to address.

The Governor told President Fox he is prepared to send National Guard troops to temporarily assist in U.S. border patrol operations, and stressed that he will continue to pressure the federal government to implement comprehensive immigration reform that includes a guest worker program. And the Governor urged President Fox to pass laws that mirror pending legislation in the U.S. Congress making it a crime to build tunnels at the border.

"The firm and decided leadership of both federal governments will allow us to develop and maintain a secure border," the two leaders said in a joint statement agreed to in Thursday's meetings. "Both leaders recognize the urgency of border security, as well as the value and importance of lawful immigration."

The Governor also stressed in his conversation with President Fox that the best permanent solution to the problem of illegal immigration is to build up the Mexican economy so people can find good jobs without having to cross the border.

In prepared remarks to be delivered at a later reception, the Governor stressed California's longstanding warm relationship with Mexico and its people.

"As everyone knows, Mexico and California have a great relationship," the Governor said. "We are working on the immigration issue and both sides know it's a complex problem, but Mexico and California are true partners and true friends."

Advisors to President Fox who participated in the larger meeting included Geronimo Gutierrez, acting secretary, foreign affairs; Sergio Garcia, secretary of the economy; Dr. Alberto Ortega, public politics, office of the President; Juan Bosco, general director, North America, secretary of foreign affairs; Consul General Alejandra Bologna, Sacramento; Governor Eugenio Elorduy, state of Baja California; and Ambassador Carlos de Icaza, ambassador of Mexico to the United States of America.

The Governor's advisors included Susan Kennedy, chief of staff; George Shultz, the former U.S. Secretary of State who is now Chairman of the Governor's Council of Economic Advisors; Fred Aguiar, cabinet secretary; Will Fox, deputy chief of staff for operations and protocol; Dan Dunmoyer, deputy chief of staff for policy; Bonnie Reiss, senior advisor; Terry Tamminen, special advisor for energy and the environment; Rosario Marin, Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency; and Sunne Wright McPeak, Secretary of the Business, Housing and Transportation Agency.

In their joint statement, the two leaders stressed the strong economic ties between Mexico and California, including the multi-billion-dollar tourist trade that occurs each year. They pledged to set up a working group of experts from California and Mexico that will make recommendations on ways to "spur greater economic prosperity."

The joint statement also commits California and Mexico to collaborate on efforts to promote environmental cooperation and to make sure "best practices and technologies" are shared and employed in waterways and air basins shared by both governments.

And the joint statement says the two governments will host a biannual conference to bring Mexican and Californian government officials, environmental experts, and technology leaders together to build clean technologies for use in border state industries.

Following the private meetings at the State Capitol, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver also conducted a private tour for President Vicente Fox and his wife, Marta Sahagún de Fox, of the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts. The Mexican First Couple arranged for the Martha Chapa art exhibit unveiling at the Museum to coincide with their historic visit to California. A native of Mexico, Martha Chapa blends her love of art and of cooking, which she sees as closely related. The exhibit is on display at the California Museum and the exhibit is free through June 30, 2006.

The Governor and First Lady also showcased the Latina exhibit, which recognizes the achievements of remarkable Latinas that have helped build California, such as social activist and labor leader Dolores Huerta; award-winning singer and philanthropist Vikki Carr and President and CEO of the Hispanic Scholarship Fund Sara Martinez Tucker.

"The spirit of California is shaped through the vast contributions of remarkable women," said First Lady Maria Shriver. "I am pleased to take part in cultural exchanges, like the Martha Chapa exhibit, to encourage, inspire and enrich the lives of Californians."

After the tour, Governor Schwarzenegger and President Fox delivered joint remarks at a reception attended by more than 300 guests.

"Mexico and California are true partners and true friends," the Governor's prepared remarks said. "When we work together in the spirit of mutual respect and affection, we are able to make real progress on the tough issues that occasionally divide us."

The evening ended with the Governor hosting his first state dinner, which was held for more than 100 guests at the newly-renovated Stanford Mansion. Renowned San Francisco Bay Area caterer, Paula LeDuc, prepared the evening's menu, which featured a variety of California-grown produce.

The full text of the joint statement:

JOINT STATEMENT
between
The Honorable Vicente Fox Quesada, President of the United Mexican States
and
The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor of California, U.S.

On Thursday, May 25, 2006, Mexico's President Vicente Fox and California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger met in Governor Schwarzenegger's office at the State Capitol in Sacramento to discuss issues of mutual concern.
President Fox and Governor Schwarzenegger recognized that Mexico and California share a common border and a rich cultural, political and economic history.
Mexico and California enjoy a robust and important trade relationship. Mexico is California's largest export trading partner, receiving $17.7 billion worth of goods and services in 2005; and California imports $24.2 billion of goods and services.
Tourism between Mexico and California is also an important economic engine. In 2002, this tourism relationship was worth approximately $5 billion, of which $1.5 billion was direct Mexican expenditures in California and $600 million was directed Californian expenditures in Mexico.
President Fox and Governor Schwarzenegger recognize the importance of immigrant workers to the economic, social and cultural development of California. Immigration presents challenges to California and Mexico and we agree the federal governments of the U.S. and Mexico must have comprehensive immigration policies to allow for immigration that is safe, legal and orderly and that is respectful of human rights and work-safety environment. Both leaders recognize the urgency of border security as well as the value and importance of immigration; and
Both leaders recognize that by working cooperatively to deter narcotics smuggling and human trafficking they will be able to address a crucial policy issue that affects the economic and social well-being of both regions. The firm and decided leadership of both federal governments will allow us to develop and maintain a secure border.
Mexico and California share natural resources including our water, air and seas, which all play a crucial role in our quality of life and economic well-being.
Since each of these resources knows no borders, we have shared environmental technologies and have mutually recognized the importance of utilizing the most advance science and research available to ensure the constant improvement of our common environment and natural resources.
In this respect, California has actively participated in the annual Border Governors Conferences where the governors from 10 border states meet to discuss issues of mutual importance.
Both President Fox and Governor Schwarzenegger fully understand the importance of mutual cooperation between our governments and therefore agree to maintain a regular dialogue that will assist in developing an agreement on a bilateral agenda and to this end begin with the following three collaborative efforts:
1. In an effort to promote greater economic prosperity and well-being in both California and Mexico, President Fox and Governor Schwarzenegger are committed to working cooperatively to identify policies that (1) enhance economic growth and (2) enhance commerce between the people and businesses of both Mexico and California especially focusing on the adoption of technology in the public and private sectors.
Advisors from both governments will work collaboratively, particularly on the policies that affect cross-border economic and environmental activity, and will create a working group to present specific recommendations for policies to spur greater economic prosperity and accelerated adoption of environmental technology.
The working group is charged with presenting their recommendations as soon as possible.
2. Furthermore, we will pursue a joint collaboration under which the governments of Mexico and California will expand on efforts to promote environmental cooperation. A newly formed working group will take proactive measures to ensure that environmental best practices and technologies are shared among all parties and employed in waterways and air basins shared by both governments.
California and Mexico will jointly host a biannual conference during which government officials, environmental experts and leaders from the private sector who focus on environmental technology present their research and findings related to emerging environmental technologies and discuss strategies for accelerating their adoption into markets in Mexico and California. Government leaders will also present strategies that they have implemented or plan to implement to foster environmental improvement from a policy perspective, so that best practices can be shared and replicated.
During the first conference, government leaders from Mexico and California will set voluntary goals for what they will accomplish over the next two years; at the next conference, progress on these goals should be reported, and, once again, ideas, best practices and technology will be shared.
3. In accordance with this effort, and in response to the invitation of President Fox, Governor Schwarzenegger has agreed to lead a delegation of businesses and other stakeholders on a trade mission to Mexico to help strengthen our existing relationship.

###

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, First Lady Maria Shriver, Mexico President Vicente Fox and Speaker Fabian Nunez's Remarks at Secretary of State Building Courtyard Reception

Thursday, 05/25/2006 07:05 pm
SPEAKER NUNEZ:
Thank you very much. At this point, ladies and gentlemen, I want to introduce a woman who in her own right has done a lot to lead California, focused on issues of children's poverty, to bring focus and attention to the lives of children in this state, but also brought a staple to this state in the way of the California Women's Museum so that we can recognize the accomplishments of spectacular women in this state that have done so much to contribute to the wealth, to the depth of this state, that have contributed to what now California is in the world, which is the sixth largest economy.
With that, ladies and gentlemen, let me present to you our Fist Lady. At first she didn't like the term Fist Lady, but she's not only getting used to it now, she likes that office, which is now the Governor's Office, quite a bit. Ladies and gentlemen, our First Lady -- she doesn't like his office, she says -- our First Lady, none other than Maria Shriver. (Applause)
MARIA SHRIVER:
Gracias, Fabian. Buenas noches, mis amigos, how is everybody? Good.
It is a great honor for all of us here to welcome President Fox and his extraordinary wife Marta. She told me she doesn't use the title First Lady, she just likes to be called Marta. So it is our pleasure to welcome you here to this California museum, and we wanted to welcome you here because this museum belongs to the people of California. It is the people's museum, all 37 million of us who call ourselves California. This is home to our extraordinary archives, and perhaps most important, it's home to the stories and the struggles and the journeys of the people who built this extraordinary state.
And many of them who contributed so beautifully came from Mexico, and I'm so thrilled that his museum was also able to, for the first time, do an exhibit about the contributions of Latinos to the formation of what California is today, and it chronicles women who are achieving so much right now to make this state what it is today.
California has always been known, I think as we all know, as a state where dreamers come, people who dare, people who are fearless, people who want to make their mark on history. Your wife, Mr. President, and I were talking on the way in here about how difficult it is to dare to be different. We had an interesting conversation; I'll just leave it at that. We both kind of talked about that.
We did talk a little bit about what happens when you become a first lady and you never thought about it, but I'm not going to talk about that either. But we had a wonderful ride.
And we very much wanted you to see this exhibit so that you understood that we understand the incredible contributions of Latinos to this state. And we're so thrilled that you brought beautiful paintings from a wonderful artist in Mexico, Marta Chapa. The
President and Marta have brought her work here so that school children and Californians can go through this museum and understand so much of what's going on in Mexico. So much great art comes from there.
And we look forward to bringing some of the extraordinary artists who work in this state. All up and down California we have extraordinary men and women who are working in our streets doing murals, doing paintings, dancing. We have some of the most creative people on the planet. We'd love to bring them to Mexico so that the Mexican people can see how talented the Californians are, and we can share our heritage in that way.
And finally, I wanted to give a little gift to your wife. There is a woman on the State Seal of California named Minerva, and I like to bring her up, because she is, in my mind, the ultimate multi-tasker, as so many women are. She wears a helmet when she needs to do battle, but she's also the goddess of peace and wisdom. And this is a gift made by a California woman artist, and the words on it, I think, apply to you, Marta. We talk about courage and wisdom and creativity, and this Minerva is exemplified here, she is depicted as a Latina, as an African American, as an Asian and as an Anglo, because we are the most diverse state on the planet. And one of the things I'm most proud of is how we coexist here in this state in all of our diversity, with our different religions, our different cultures, our different heritages, and we coexist here and we all support each other.
So I hope that in the 24 hours that you're here in the great state of California you have an opportunity to meet our greatest natural resource, which is the men and women that call themselves California. And when you look at Minerva you will remember that we come from all different parts of the world, and we come here because we believe in this state, and we want people to feel that they're free to dream here and free to accomplish here, and that they're of value here.
So welcome to California, and welcome to this great museum. Fabian? (Applause)
SPEAKER NUNEZ:
Thank you very much. Isn't our Fist Lady great? She's wonderful, she's wonderful. (Applause)
At this point it is my privilege and my honor to introduce to you a man who took over the reins of this state at a time when people thought that Democrats and Republicans couldn't come together to move this state forward. He was driven by a goal that many of us share who are immigrants in California, a goal that says that this great experiment we call America is the hope and promise of a dream that can be fulfilled through hard work, through effort, through coming together, to walking through those walls, breaking those barriers that oftentimes keep us apart.
And I think in the last couple of months we were able to prove that California, unlike many other states and around this country, that we can come together and put ideological differences aside to move California forward. And I'm proud to say of our governor that he has California back on track. California is once again, my friends, on the move, thanks largely to this next man, the governor of our great state and a good friend of mine, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Governor? (Applause)
GOVERNOR SCHWARZENEGGER:
Well, thank you very much, Fabian, for the wonderful introduction, and for the wonderful things you said. As a matter of fact, I'm going to use a lot of those lines in my campaign this year. This is really great stuff that I can use to get re-elected. I'll say, "Fabian said -- the Speaker said --" Oh, yes, this is going to be great. Thank you very much. It was worth it to come here, I knew it right away.
Anyway, I want to say thank you all for coming here today, it is great to have you all here. And I want to say right off the top, thank you to Maria for doing such an extraordinary job here with the museum, and also for organizing this event here today. So give her a big hand again for the great job that she is doing. (Applause)
And also a big thank you to Speaker NÃºÃ±ez for MCing this today here, and for the great job that you are doing, outstanding. We couldn't have done any of that without you, bringing the state back, so thank you very much. A big hand to the Speaker. So you use that for your campaign, okay? (Applause)
Thank you very much. And what a great honor it is, and what a privilege, to welcome the President and Mrs. Marta Fox to California; it's wonderful to have you both here. And we have had, of course, several great meetings this afternoon and several great conversations here, and the First Family's visit should be a great source of pride to all Californians.
Now, I know that the Speaker has said earlier about the things that we have in common. But let me tell you, there are few other things that we have in common besides the accent, and that is, and I want to just remind you, we both were born in July. Right? Both were born in July. We both married up, that's another thing. Neither one of us was born in America; there's another one. And neither one of us has won an Oscar, so there's another one. The only problem is, he has a better chance of winning one, so this is the --
But anyway, actually I met President Fox a few years ago in Los Angeles. We were both at a Hollywood dinner party; we were sitting there at a large table with a bunch of entertainers including Marlon Brando, and had wonderful conversations about the economy, about show business, and about the relationship between the United States and Mexico and so on, and it was wonderful.
And I really have to say that I admired him then already, I admired him even before he ran for president, because he's a man that came and wanted to change the system. I like the fact that President Fox was not a career politician when he ran. He was a businessman, a successful businessman, and he left that behind in order to become a public servant. He wanted to serve all of the people of Mexico. So this is a man who obviously understands business. This is a man that understands that because he was in business, he was a supervisor and a truck driver, and he worked for Coca-Cola, and eventually he ran the entire empire in Mexico and in Latin America, and this is why he has this great background to run the country of Mexico. So he has been terrific, if you think about his knowledge about economics and about business and about politics, and it means also that he knows a lot about how to make a living and how to live within your means. And the President left this lucrative business, and I think that we really appreciate the kind of work that he has done.
President Fox is a reformer; he doesn't like just the status quo. He had the courage and the integrity to stand up to the entrenched PRI party. When he was elected in the year 2000 he was the first president to come from outside the ruling party in 90 years. (Applause)
And we are also very happy to report -- and I think everyone knows this -- that both California's and the Mexican economies are doing extremely well now, and I want to congratulate the President for this great job that he has done. President Fox noted recently that Mexico's national economy is growing faster than it has in the last six years, so obviously the President's policies are working. So congratulations for that accomplishment. (Applause)
Now, there are many reasons why I have always had a great affinity and affection for Mexico and the Mexican people. In fact, Austria and Mexico have actually a lot of things in common. I'm sure that most of you don't know that, but the Mariachi music, for instance, well, you know, that comes kind of from Austria. As a matter of fact, if you listen to the Austrian polka, which I listened to all my childhood, then you know there's a great, great similarity, and I think that's the reason why I have loved the Mariachi bands so much, and the Mariachi music so much.
And I know that President Fox actually just recently was in Austria, and was there on a state visit. And I hope that besides doing his politics and diplomacy work and all this that he had a chance to try some, and to listen to some, of our Austrian polka and Austrian waltz, and that he also had the chance to maybe try some of our good weiner schnitzel, and our great desserts, the sachertorte and the apfelstrudel and maybe drink some of those good schnapps.
But anyway, I have always enjoyed Mexico. I had the great opportunity to shoot four of my movies in Mexico, and the Mexican people, I have to tell you, were always very supportive and hardworking. As a matter of fact, we couldn't have done some of those movies if it wouldn't have been for the great movie studio, Churubusco, in Mexico City. And there I experienced some of the most hardworking people and talented people. I remember the fantastic makeup artists they had there, the most talented camera operators, the genius set designers, and the tough stunt guys they had in Mexico. It was wonderful to work with them, and I have fond memories of filming those films in Mexico.
As a matter of fact, they always gave me a chance to stay down there and to live there for three to six months for each of the movies that we have done, and to learn a little bit about the culture of Mexico and really get to know the people of Mexico.
And let me tell you, I've always loved also the Mexican architecture. I mean, the bold shapes and the evocative colors that the Mexican architects use, it's just wonderful. And the art that we have just seen here in this exhibit here. I mean, I just love Mexican art. And I also love, of course, the food in Mexico, and the tequila. Oh, man. And I'm not going to tell you, but I did get drunk a few times with the tequila in Mexico. (Applause)
As everyone knows, Mexico and California have a great relationship. We are working on the immigration issue, and I think that the President has held a fantastic speech today. It was really spectacular. So thank you very much for this great, great speech that you held, which was awesome. (Applause)
And both sides know that it is a complex problem, and that both of us, both countries, have to do even more in order to solve this problem. But Mexico and California are true partners, and we are friends. And our relationship is very strong, and this is why I know that we will work through these difficult moments.
Mexico is California's largest trading partner. Our exports to Mexico last year were more than 17.5 billion dollars, an increase of 19 percent since I came into office, and this is good for both sides of the border. (Applause)
The trade includes everything from computers to electronic products to food, to machinery and transportation equipment, and the list goes on and on.
Californians love Mexico, and Mexicans love California. As a matter of fact, Mexico is the No. 1 international tourist destination for the people of our state, just as Mexicans are the No. 1 source of international tourist visits to California. Last year 3.7 million Mexicans visited California and spent more than 1.5 billion dollars just in our state alone. We enjoy each others cultures and products. We love to visit one another, and we celebrate all that we have in common. Mexico is a wonderful friend a wonderful partner.
So we welcome President Fox and his wife to our great state, and hope that, from the bottom of our hearts, that you will find nothing but pleasure and friendship while you are here among your neighbors and your friends. I know that the President understands that it is the only way, when we work together in that spirit, that we will be able to make real progress on tough issues that occasionally may divide us.
But with the President here, it actually reminds me of something that our late President John F. Kennedy has said 44 years ago when he visited Mexican President Lopez Mateos in Mexico City, and those words have actually great meaning even today. President Kennedy said, "That while geography has made us neighbors, tradition has made us friends, economics have made us partners, and necessity has made us allies." So let's think about those wise words as we go down this friendship.
Thank you very much. And now -- (Applause)
And now I would like to introduce the great President Vicente Fox. Thank you very much. Please. (Applause)
PRESIDENT FOX:
(Spanish) (Applause)
Arnold, thank you very much for your invitation to come to California. It couldn't have been more timely, it couldn't be more productive to enhance our friendship, our relationship, our partnership. I've been traveling three days in the United States; in Utah with a new friend of mine and friend of Mexico, Governor Jon, in Washington, with a new friend and partner, Christine, the governor of the state of Washington. And now here in California, where we have started working on the three-fold purpose of our trip.
One, to keep progressing in building this extraordinary friendship and relationship, and working together to build up opportunities for our people, to generate jobs through (UI) investment and trading among our two nations. We've been very successful in this purpose, because we have a very strong commitment on this relationship that we have, on this partnership with the United States. This obligation we have, priority obligation, to build up opportunities in Mexico, to be sure that we create the jobs that Mexicans are demanding, to make sure that we build opportunities, especially for the young in Mexico, opportunities for income, jobs, and productive occupations, opportunities to build up a patrimony through the ownership of a home, opportunities to be in a school, in university. This year we're granting over 1 million scholarships to 1 million kids that are in technical schools or universities in Mexico. That 1 million youngsters -- (Applause)
That 1 million youngsters have a seat in Mexican universities. Otherwise, that 1 million would have been trying to come, looking for a job in the United States, but now they are building a life project in different universities in Mexico. Education is the key to make sure that we build up a better future to both of our nations. This is why we have brought in information technologies to each and every one single school throughout Mexico, no matter that that school is in the most remote place in Mexico, rural area, or indigenous communities. They are being installed a blackboard, electronic digital connections to the internet, so that they have the capacity to prepare themselves, be competitive.
Purpose No. 2 of this trip; political dialogue. A democratic government understands that dialogue is the key function to make that democracy be efficient. And this is what we have sustained here in the United States, meetings, dialogue, negotiations with governors, with municipalities, with Congress, with different business organizations and with everybody, but mainly dialogue with our own people here to understand the situation, too listen to their aspirations, and be able to respond to them as it is our obligation.
Today is a historic day. This big step that has been taken forward in dealing with the migration issue, there is no doubt in my mind that it will be to the better of both of our nations that all this energy, this working, quality, productive energy, that all the talent and the inspiration on building equality of life in this great nation, put together, is going to take us faster to the American dream as well as the Mexican dream. We are not only neighbors. We have built a very strong friendship through people, relations, and now we are partners, strong partners, building a better future for our families and for our people.
And purpose No. 3 of this trip has been to be close to our dear paisanas and paisanos. (Applause)
I was with them in the apple farms in Washington, I was with them in Utah. I will be here with them in California. (Applause)
The president of Mexico is very, very proud of our people here, as we are very, very proud of the spirit of a migrant. The 21st century is the century of migrations, and this step, this decision that was taken today, will be an inspiration for revealing the right administration of this phenomenon. In Europe, in Asia, in South America, in Central America, this will be an example for the rest of the world that you can make out of migration an opportunity, a constructive opportunity, that migration can be administrated with intelligence, with long-term vision, with a purpose of building a better world, better communities, better families.
So I'll never forget this day, and I have the strongest recognition to the US Senate, to President Bush, because he fought all along to reach this moment to many governors, many leaders, economic, business, church leaders, community leaders, leaders of non-government organizations. I know it's a complex subject, but reason prevailed, humanity, respect, harmony, is what was decided upon today. The impact will affect the lives, the destiny, of millions of people, millions of families, that now they will have the opportunity to be united, that now they don't have to hide anymore. They can do their decent and productive work in daylight, and the beneficiary, no doubt, is going to be the US economy.
So to all of you, thank you for inviting us to California. Thank you for your warm reception. Thank you, Arnold, for this invitation. To us it's moving, it's motivating, and it's compromising. We know there is still a long way ahead, but we are going to keep working every day to have a better world, to have a better region of North America, to have a strong partnership so that we can build a better future for our families. Thank you very much, and God bless you. (Applause)

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2006/05/text_of_preside.html

May 25, 2006.

Text of President Fox's Address to California State Legislature

Senator Don Perata, President pro-tempore of the Senate; Representative Fabian Nunez, President of the California Legislature; Distinguished legislative leaders; Members of this Honorable Legislature; Members the Mexican Delegation; Ladies and Gentlemen.
On behalf of the people and the Government of Mexico, a nation which is a partner and a friend of the United States of America, I express my most sincere appreciation for the opportunity to address this joint session of the legislature of California.
In addition to being neighbors, Mexico and California share longstanding and close ties of friendship, cooperation and good will.
Let this historic occasion mark my country's pledge to a stronger relationship between Mexico and California. Let this historic occasion mark our joint commitment to making this relationship one in which we seek understanding while respecting our differences…and working together to achieve the prosperity and security of our peoples, as we face the global challenges of the 21st century.
Mexico has long strived to build democracy and economic stability. The road has certainly not been an easy one, but every single step has been worth it. And today, our 100 million people live next door to you in peace and freedom.
Consider just how far we have come in six short years. Today your neighbor is a Mexico with free and fair elections; a Mexico with clear separation of power among the branches of government; a Mexico with the utmost respect for the rule of law, freedom of religion and freedom of speech; with government accountability and transparency as the rule and not the exception.
Today we live in a completely different Mexico than we did just six years ago ... a Mexico where every citizen has a say in government ... a Mexico where those voters require that government serves the people.
Nothing less than a fully democratic Mexico is demanded by its citizens; nothing less than a fully democratic Mexico has been the guiding principle of our administration.
Over the past five years, the promotion of human rights has been a centerpiece of government policy. This policy upholds human rights culture in Mexico's society and aims at prosecuting all cases of human rights abuse by government authorities.
Moreover, we have opened ourselves to international scrutiny. During my administration, for the first time, Mexico called for the establishment of an office of the United Nations High Commissioner on Human Right.
In recognition, last week Mexico was elected to preside over the new United Nations Human Rights.Council... underscoring our commitment to human rights for all.
But no democracy can flourish fully unless it provides economic freedom; unless it frees the energy and hard work of its people ... unless it unleashes a true entrepreneurial spirit.
Until recently, Mexico was trapped in a vicious cycle of economic crisis. But we have set out to change that ... and today, Mexico has the soundest, safest, most stable economy of our lifetimes.
Thanks to a responsible management of public finances, we have achieved an inflation rate of 3.3%, the lowest in thirty seven years. We have single digit interest rates ... and our economy is growing at a healthy 5.3%.
Mexicans want a government that wastes less, operates cleaner and works better. Our administration's average public deficit will be the lowest in thirty years, yet we will have spent more on improving the lives of our people than any other administration in Mexico's history.
Through "Oportunidades", our federal government's main social program, over five million Mexican families in poverty - some twenty five million poor people - now receive health, education and nutritional support.
Over the last six years, spending on education has increased over 70%. At the end of my administration, Mexico will be allocating at least 7.5% of its Gross Domestic Product to education.
We have also made progress regarding housing. In less than six years, more than three million families have gained access to a decent home.
But I have learned that the best social program in the world is a good job at decent wages.
That's a big part of our mission here today...to promote investment, business and trade that create jobs both in Mexico and right here in California.
Free trade and investment agreements with over forty countries make Mexico one of the world's most open economies, one which trades over 435 billion dollars a year.
Mexico is the second largest trading partner of the U.S., buying more products from this country than Germany, Italy, France and the United Kingdom all combined.
Mexico is California's largest trading partner.
Dear friends; Mexico and the United States have a strong, dynamic--and yes--complex relationship.
Over the years we have moved away from a notion of distant neighbors to one of strategic partners.
In the beginning of the 21st Century, the need for improving our regional competitiveness and the threat from terrorism and criminal organizations, call upon us to regard regional prosperity and security as two key elements in our shared agenda.
The Security and Prosperity Partnership for North America, created last year by Canada, Mexico and the United States, seeks to reduce the cost of doing business between our countries, breaking the bottlenecks at the border with more efficient and secure trade corridors…eliminating "the tyranny of small differences" between our regulations.
Over the past five years our government has promoted the establishment of a new system that regulates the movement of people across our border in a manner which is legal, safe, and orderly.
We have pursued this course with the firm conviction that a legal, safe, orderly migration policy will benefit the security and prosperity of both of our nations.
This belief is guided by a principle of shared responsibility, which acknowledges that both countries must do our share in the bilateral management of migration.
Today the United States Senate has taken a historic step by voting in favor of a comprehensive immigration reform.
It is a moment that millions of families have been hoping for; this is the moment that millions of people have been working for.
Today historic vote is a monumental step forward but we recognize that there is more debate ahead, so I want to reiterate the commitment of my government:
1. To respect the sovereign right of the United States to enforce its laws and protect its border and its citizens.
2. To continue to expand jobs, economic growth and social opportunities so migration is no longer a necessity.
3. To develop and enforce migration laws and policy with full respect for human rights and the safety of citizens on both sides of the border and to fighting all forms of human smuggling and trafficking.
4. To adjust Mexico's migration policy to safeguard our borders under the principle of shared responsibility.
Mexico believes that it will take more than just enforcement to truly solve the challenges posed by the migration phenomenon, and that a comprehensive reform is in the interest of both nations.
Ladies and gentlemen; As never before, our societies call upon their governments to achieve a better management of migration and our border.
Mexico wants to be part of the solution, not part of the problem.
Comprehensive reform will help both countries to concentrate our efforts and resources on addressing our shared security and prosperity concerns. We are your partners in security against terrorism. We are your allies in the war on drugs and crime. We are your partners in the drive for economic prosperity. Let us work together, as neighbors and friends.
The United States rightly prides itself as a country whose strength and character comes from its diversity. Mexico is proud of its people here, whose working spirit and moral values contribute everyday to the economy and society of this great nation.
I stand here before you; above all, firmly convinced that as in other crucial moments of our history, our shared vision, commitment and courage can help us take yet another step forward to the benefit of our two great nations.
Thank you very much.

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