Joint Statement of the Presidents of the Republic of Guatemala and the United Mexican States
Mexico-Guatemala Joint Statement
On May 5, 2022, the President of the United Mexican States, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, traveled to Guatemala, meeting with the President of the Republic of Guatemala, Alejandro Eduardo Giammattei Falla, to discuss and promote the priority issues on the bilateral agenda; promote economic integration and regional prosperity; consolidate development cooperation projects; and discuss joint actions to reduce the structural causes of irregular migration, based on the excellent level of understanding and friendship that currently prevails between the two countries.
This meeting, the fourth the two leaders have held, takes place during the first international trip of the Mexican president, with Guatemala as the first stop, as an expression of the privileged relationship between neighbors and partners united by their historical and cultural legacy. Previously, the President of Guatemala visited Mexico during the 17th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Mérida, Yucatán on September 22, 2019; to commemorate the end of the Caste War of Yucatán in Chan Santa Cruz, Quintana Roo and in Mexico City on May 3-4, 2021, and during the 6th Summit of Heads of State and Government of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) on September 18, 2021 in Mexico City.
As a result of this visit, the presidents:
- Welcomed the entry into force on February 17 of the Agreement on Mutual Administrative Assistance and Information Exchange in Customs Matters, which will enable joint operations in customs matters to be carried out through specific arrangements that make it possible to facilitate the implementation of these operations at crossing points selected in accordance to their feasibility and commercial impact. In this sense, they instructed the appropriate authorities to agree, within a period of between three and six months, on the specific arrangements derived from the Agreement. These actions will foster economic prosperity, customs cooperation and trade facilitation, which will streamline the crossing of goods and logistics and reduce costs.
- Highlighted the formalization of the crossing point for cargo traffic at the Ingenieros-Nueva Orizaba border crossing and welcomed the agreement giving it commercial status. The leaders instructed the corresponding authorities to form a high-level working group and to meet as soon as possible to determine the weights and conditions for commercial exchanges at the border crossing.
- In line with the above, and in order to begin cargo operations, Mexico welcomed the fact that Guatemala has begun building facilities, to be named the Bicentennial Customs Office, at the border crossing. They believe that this additional border crossing could be used for joint operations.
- Agreed to encourage more trade at the other existing border crossings. To this end, they instructed the relevant authorities to expand the commercial capacity to allow for the transit of heavy cargo at the Mesilla-Ciudad Cuauhtémoc crossing as a joint operation with Mexico's support for the use of its facilities.
- Instructed the appropriate authorities to explore together improved coordination at the border ports (schedules, procedures, among others) with the aim of improving services for tourists, merchandise and vehicles and means of transport, and reducing operational bottlenecks to help facilitate trade.
- Welcomed the progress made under the Comprehensive Development Plan (PDI) between Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico with the support of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), as a strategy to address the structural causes of irregular migration by creating opportunities for economic and social development.
- Welcomed the actions related to the upcoming implementation of the Sembrando Vida Project in Guatemala and the announcement of the first registrations of applicants for the project in Chimaltenango Department, Guatemala, by the Mexican Agency for International Development Cooperation (AMEXCID) based on the Letter of Intent on Bilateral Cooperation signed by the foreign ministers in May 2021. The purpose of the Sembrando Vida project is to contribute to the food security of farmers who live in rural areas with high rates of emigration and incomes that are below the average monthly salary by providing training and putting in place agroforestry production systems that encourage self-sufficiency in addition to the sale of products and surpluses.
- Reiterated their interest in continuing efforts to promote safe, orderly, regular and circular migration, based on co-responsibility and full respect for human rights in all phases of the migration cycle. Accordingly, they welcomed Mexico's initiative to seek alternatives to increase the number of Regional Visitor Cards (TVR) and Border Worker Visitor Cards (TVTF) issued, using these immigration documents to boost the economy of the border communities. Both countries expressed their willingness to provide information about both cards in order to expand their use.
- Mexico reiterated its commitment to the right of border workers from Guatemala to identity and social security by simplifying the issuance of the Unique Population Registry Code (CURP) as of April 26, a requirement for registering with the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS). Based on the foregoing, employers in the border region can guarantee the right of Guatemalan workers to social security beginning on the first day they are hired, which benefits their families and the regional economy that receives them on the Mexican side.
- Highlighted the valuable contribution of migration to the economic, social and cultural development of places of residence and the countries of origin. Agreed on the need to work together to serve their respective citizens abroad and strengthen the dialogue with local authorities through collective actions. To this end, the two presidents agreed to strengthen collaboration between the 23 consulates of Guatemala and the 51 of Mexico in the United States, and to begin a joint dialogue with El Salvador and Honduras as part of comprehensive migration management.
- Agreed to promote holding a Ministerial Conference on Migration in the second half of 2022 to give impetus to an Action Plan that addresses the structural causes of irregular migration and includes concrete actions for development.
- They welcomed the forthcoming opening of a Mexican consulate in Petén Department. With this consulate, Mexico's largest consular network will be created in a Latin American and Caribbean country. The new consulate will serve the Mexican community, expand the availability of consular services for Guatemalan citizens traveling to Mexico and boost tourism and trade.
- Reaffirmed their commitment to continuing to take steps to combat the criminal activities linked to migrant smuggling and trafficking through initiatives aimed at preventing, combating and prosecuting the crime.
- Welcomed the creation of the Immediate Action Group against the network of human traffickers responsible for the tragedy that occurred in Chiapas, Mexico in December 2021, as a sign of both countries' will to work together to combat criminal networks. The Guatemalan president announced the actions taken to toughen the sentences for migrant smugglers, from 10 to 30 years, and said that the promotion of similar legal measures in the region would give greater protection to migrants and be more effective in combating this crime.
- Instructed their technical teams to work on a proposal for an instrument that promotes cooperation in the fight against migrant smuggling by exchanging information and better coordination of border security.
- Committed to exchanging experiences and good practices in railway infrastructure and instructed the relevant authorities to hold technical meetings to identify projects for binational collaboration.
- Recognized the strategic value of the economic relationship between the two countries. The Mexican president welcomed the fact that Guatemala is Mexico's main trading partner in Central America. He recognized the measures that the government of President Giammattei has put in place to promote Guatemala's macroeconomic stability, implementation of the "Guatemala Does Not Stop Plan," and the goals of the "Walls of Prosperity" program, which takes a territorial approach to creating poles of development and economic growth, particularly in the border region, promoting job creation and establishing better living conditions.
- Agreed on the need to continue making joint efforts to strengthen the trade relationship and promoting bilateral investments, in order to take advantage of the benefits of the Mexico-Central America Free Trade Agreement (FTA). They welcomed the holding of the IV meeting of the FTA Administrative Commission in December 2021, and results that included strengthening the institutional framework of the Agreement and legal certainty for the economic operators of the member countries.
- The Presidents instructed their trade authorities to agree on a roadmap to make the most of the opportunities offered by the Mexico-Central America FTA, promote bilateral trade in goods and services, work to resolve health and phytosanitary issues, and to address the technical barriers to trade in order to boost the admissibility of exportable products from both countries. This will enable trade to contribute to economic growth and prosperity and help improve the quality of life of the population by creating more and better job opportunities.
- Discussed the start of operations at Mexico's Felipe Ángeles International Airport. Guatemala extended its congratulations for the important infrastructure project, and the leaders agreed on the possibility of both countries expanding the frequency of their flights. They welcomed the start of routes between Guatemala and Tapachula and Cancun, and the recently inaugurated routes between Guatemala and Mérida and Oaxaca, as well as the Guatemala-Chetumal route that will begin soon.
- Recognized the importance of collaborating on comprehensive disaster management and on sustainable and inclusive adaptation to climate change by exchanging information, methodologies and good practices between both countries. They instructed the relevant authorities to make progress on an instrument for technical and scientific cooperation in matters of prevention, attention and mitigation of natural disasters.
- Welcomed the transfer of the chairmanship of the Ministerial Council of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) from Mexico to Guatemala, which took place on April 29, during the 27th ordinary meeting of the Council.
The President of the United Mexican States, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, thanked the people and Government of Guatemala for the cordial and warm reception he received during his stay in the country, with whom there have been great historical and cultural bonds since September 6, 1848, the date diplomatic relations were established.
