Mexico - Belize Hails President Calderón's Leadership
Prime Minister of Belize, Dean O. Barrow, hailed President Felipe Calderón's leadership in Federal Government's fight to restore safety in the country.
"In the context of security, I must take advantage of this opportunity to congratulate Mexico, under President Calderón's leadership, on the tireless battle it has fought, at such a great human and material cost, against the drug trafficking cartels.
Mr. President, you have become a sort of force of nature in your campaign to provide security for all Mexicans. You are undoubtedly an inspiration for our region and the world," he said.
At the Esplanade of the Monument to Francisco I. Madero, at Los Pinos, President Felipe Calderón welcomed the Prime Minister of Belize, currently on an official visit to Mexico.
"On the question of our border, the modern era has exacerbated the problems caused by the illegal trafficking of drugs, weapons and human beings. But it is precisely neighborliness, which I referred to, that has enabled us to develop solid schemes to combat trans-border crime," he said.
For his part, the Mexican president, accompanied by his wife, Margarita Zavala, confirmed the friendship linking Mexico and Belize, and highlighted the reinforcement of the strategic relationship they have built over the years.
"On the basis of neighborliness, marked by collaboration and understanding, we have consolidated a relationship full of economic and social opportunities.
In addition to friendship and cooperation, in recent years, we are strengthened our economic exchange. In the last decade alone, bilateral trade doubled from USD 52 to USD 104 million USD in 2009," he said.
President Calderón said that Mexico operates on the premise that the development of Mesoamerican peoples must be shared development. As a result, Mexico promotes the integration and transformation of the region, through works that modernize road, electricity and telecommunications links between the two countries.
"Mexico was, I am proud to say, the first country to establish diplomatic relations with Belize, immediately after the declaration of its Independence on 21 September 1981.
Nowadays, just as it did 29 years ago, Belize knows that it has the friendship and support of Mexicans to build a future of well-being and prosperity together for the benefit of our peoples," he said.
http://www.presidencia.gob.mx/en/press/?contenido=60756