February 24, 2003
Ottawa, Ontario

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien today announced that he will travel to Mexico City, Mexico on February 27 and 28, 2003, to meet President Vicente Fox and other members of the Mexican government.

"Canada-Mexico ties are stronger than ever before as a result of our burgeoning trade under the North American Free Trade Agreement and our cooperation on governance," said the Prime Minister. "We share a commitment to working together on hemispheric and international issues and working through multilateral institutions, particularly at this time when Mexico prepares to assume the chair of the UN Security Council."

Prime Minister Chrétien's discussion with President Fox will touch on bilateral and multilateral issues, including regional security and development, human rights, and trade. The Prime Minister will also meet with members of Congress, academics and the business community. Canada has pledged to work closely with Mexico to seek solutions to challenges and help strengthen democracy in the region.

Canada and Mexico are dynamic partners who maintain a heavy agenda of exchanges under the NAFTA. Mexico is Canada's largest trading partner in Latin America, with $15 billion in two-way trade in 2001.

The two leaders met most recently at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders Meeting in Los Cabos, Mexico in October 2002.

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