The Undersecretary for North America, Carlos Manuel Sada Solana; Ambassador Ulises Canchola Gutiérrez, chargé d’affaires of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID); and the Director General for Political Coordination, Rodrigo Reina Liceaga, chaired a meeting with the state liaisons of the Commission on International Affairs of the National Conference of Governors (Conago), which is currently coordinated by Sonora Governor Claudia Pavlovich Arellano.
The meeting is one aspect of the renewed collaboration between the Foreign Ministry and Conago to assist the Mexican community in the United States that started on January 31 during a meeting led by President Enrique Peña Nieto. Since then, the Foreign Ministry has been in constant communication with the state governments and joint programs have been launched.
In his remarks, Undersecretary Sada welcomed the agreements that resulted from the recent visit of seven Mexican governors to Los Angeles, California. In addition, he discussed steps that state governments could take to help Mexicans have access to legal advice and documentation.
Reina Liceaga explained the ways in which the Foreign Ministry could support international actions taken by the states and Conago. The Conago has become a strategic ally of the Foreign Ministry in implementing the President’s foreign policy guidelines at the local level.
Ambassador Canchola Gutiérrez discussed the opportunities for international economic diversification at the local level.
Natalia Rivera Grijalva, Head of the Office of the Sonora state government and Governor Pavlovich’s representative, spoke about the three strategic actions on the Conago’s international agenda: 1) fostering ties with the United States by holding a meeting with North American governors and premiers; 2) creating ties with China by receiving a mission of Chinese governors in Mexico; and 3) institutional capacity-building on international issues.
By holding these meetings, the Foreign Ministry and Conago reaffirm their readiness to work together so that ‘local internationalization’ creates greater well-being for society and strengthens Mexico as an actor with global responsibility.
