Mexico City, January 11, 2023.- "Prime Minister Trudeau is our friend; we have had time to talk about matters of interest to the peoples of Mexico and Canada, such as investment, the importance of the migration program and recognition of indigenous communities," said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the start of the bilateral meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the North American Leaders' Summit.

Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the well-being of their peoples by building more prosperous, sustainable, safe and equitable societies for all by promoting competitiveness and a progressive agenda.

The governments of Mexico and Canada discussed the initiatives they will pursue, including reconciliation with indigenous peoples; gender equality; trade and investment; antiracism; youth participation; peace and security; tourism, migration and human mobility; environment and climate change; and cooperation with regard to future health crises.

During the meeting, the Mexican President and the Prime Minister of Canada discussed shared priorities, especially in the areas of indigenous affairs, gender equality and feminist foreign policy.

They discussed issues related to trade and investment, such as the opportunities offered by economic integration under the USMCA and the increasing Canadian investments in Mexico, particularly in mining and energy, which drive growth and employment.

After noting that both countries are working on resolving the differences that naturally arise between countries with economic and trade relations, the Mexican president highlighted that these occur particularly in boom times, and that today Canadian investments in the country are growing as never before:

“Important companies such as TransCanada, which is investing in the construction of a gas pipeline in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a large investment, and it's very important because it will mean supplying gas to the southeast of Mexico.”

He committed to receiving Canadian companies with pending issues, saying that our country is open to dialogue.

He highlighted the importance of the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Program (SAWP), which allows Mexicans to work in Canadian fields. In addition, he recognized the importance and contributions of the indigenous communities.

Prime Minister Trudeau said that both countries promote respect for justice and equality for all, environmental conservation and support for indigenous peoples in order to make North America an even more prosperous region.

He stressed that Canada and Mexico continue to be very solid friends and partners who are interested in how to increase economic partnerships, the ties between people and, above all, the prosperity they bring to the trilateral relationship in North America, which has so much to offer to the world.

Participating in the meeting for Mexico were the Secretaries of Foreign Affairs, Marcelo Ebrard Casaubon; Interior, Adán Augusto López Hernández; the Navy, Jose Rafael Ojeda Duran; Public Security and Citizen Participation, Rosa Icela Rodríguez Velázquez; Finance and Public Credit, Rogelio Ramírez de la O; Environment and Natural Resources, María Luisa Albores González; and Economy, Raquel Buenrostro Sánchez.

Also attending were National Migration Institute (INM) Commissioner Francisco Garduño Álvarez; the Mexican Ambassador to Canada, Carlos Manuel Joaquín González; Chief Officer for North America Roberto Velasco Álvarez; the Executive Director of the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (Amexcid), Laura Elena Carrillo Cubillas; and Alfonso Romo Garza, Honorary Advisor to the Office of the President.

Participating for Canada were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly; Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng; and Public Safety, Marco E. L. Mendicino.

Also attending were the Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, Katie Telford; Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs David Morrison; National Security and Intelligence Advisor to the Prime Minister, Privy Council Office, Jody Thomas; the Canadian Ambassador to Mexico, Graeme C. Clark; Director of Issues Management and Parliamentary Affairs at the Office of the Prime Minister, Samantha Khalil; Senior Global Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister, Patrick Travers; Acting Foreign Policy Advisor to the Prime Minister and Assistant Secretary to the Cabinet, Privy Council Office, Jordan Zed; the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Julie Dzerowicz; Deputy Head of Mission and Counselor Minister of the Canadian Embassy in Mexico, Shauna Hemingway; and Member of Parliament Maninder Sidhu.

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