Pamela Cruz. Peninsula 360 Press [P360P].
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris met virtually Friday with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador to discuss ways to deepen cooperation between the two nations and to address the root causes of migration from countries like Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, in addition to announcing that she will visit the neighboring country on June 8.
During the talk, the promotion of economic development in the south of Mexico and the Northern Triangle of Central America was also discussed, as well as the important partnership between our two countries.
The need for the two countries to work together to recover from the ravages of the COVID-19 pandemic, build climate resilience, and expand economic opportunities and security cooperation was also recognized.
Both leaders agreed to work together to establish a strategic partnership to address the root causes of migration from countries in the Northern Triangle region.
Thus, through the joint initiative, the U.S. and Mexico will leverage their expertise and resources to address a variety of challenges, including lack of jobs, limited market access, and deforestation and regional instability caused by climate change.
Vice President Harris underscored the U.S. commitment to work with Mexico to promote economic development in the Northern Triangle and southern Mexico, to protect the rights of workers to organize or join a union, and to expand opportunities for U.S. business collaboration.
To that end, the United States has developed a package of measures that includes trade and business development missions to the region facilitated by the Commerce Department and the U.S. Trade and Development Agency and investments through the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation, the White House said in a statement,
This package, he said, follows previous investment in the region and is emblematic of the partnership with Mexico, as well as being one more step of many to come in the field.
Finally, the governments discussed their desire to advance a bilateral effort against migrant smuggling and human trafficking that will bring together law enforcement from both nations to dismantle criminal networks.
As part of this effort, the United States and Mexico will share information and expertise to jointly secure our borders and strengthen human rights protections.
The vice president expects to visit Mexico on June 8.
