We met today at Rancho San Cristobal, in Guanajuato, as friends and neighbors, to talk about and agree on important goals and principles that will govern relations between our two countries.

We are united as never before, by values and interests that cover the entire span of our rich and broad relationship. That relationship is grounded in our respect for democracy and human rights, not just for ourselves but for all people in every nation. We share a fundamental commitment to free trade as an engine of economic growth and development that leaves nobody behind. We are also committed to ensuring the rule of law, the framework on which our peoples’ freedom and prosperity depends. This common outlook will be the basis of a full, mature, and equitable partnership for prosperity.

Among our highest priorities is unleashing the economic potential of every citizen, so each may fully contribute to narrowing the economic gaps between and within our societies. We acknowledge the dynamism achieved through NAFTA, which has ushered in dramatic increases in trade that have transformed our economic relationship. After consultation with our Canadian partners, we will strive to consolidate a North American economic community, in order that its benefits reach the lesser-developed areas of the region and extend to the most vulnerable social groups in our countries. To this end, we support policies that result in sound fiscal accounts, low inflation, and strong financial systems.

Migration is one of the major ties that bind our societies. It is important that our policies reflect our values and needs, and that we achieve progress in dealing with this phenomenon. Mexico should make the most of the skills and productivity of its workers at home, but we both believe there should be an orderly framework for migration that ensures humane treatment, legal security, and dignifies labor conditions.

For this purpose, we are instructing our Governments to engage, in a brief period of time, in formal high-level negotiations aimed at achieving short and long-term agreements that will allow us to constructively address migration and labor issues between our two countries. This effort will be chaired by the Secretary of State and the Attorney General of the United States, and by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs and the Secretary of the Interior of Mexico.

We attach the utmost importance to issues affecting quality of life along our common border. We shall work for the economic and social development of our border communities, fight violence and strive to create a safe and orderly environment. We will form a new high level working group under the auspices of the Binational Commission to identify specific steps each country can take to improve the efficiency of border operations. We will begin immediate discussions to implement the NAFTA panel decision on trucking.

Drug trafficking, drug abuse, and organized crime are major threats to the well-being of our societies. To combat this threat, we must strengthen our respective law enforcement strategies and institutions, and develop closer and more trusting avenues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. We want to reduce the demand for drugs and eliminate drug trafficking organizations. To this end, we will undertake immediate steps to review policies and coordination efforts in accordance with each country’s national jurisdiction.

We will consult with our NAFTA partner Canada to develop a North American approach to the important issue of energy resources. Building on the strength of our respective cultures, we will seek to broadly expand our partnership in ways that help secure a better future for our people. Education is a key to that future; we will increase exchanges and internships that help develop human capital, and promote respect for each other’s rich cultural heritage. We will seek new cooperation in science, technology, and the environment, on which much of our economic progress and the well-being of our peoples will depend.

Beyond the bilateral agenda, our two Governments are also ready to discuss regional and hemispheric issues important to both our nations. The Summit of the Americas, to be held in April in Quebec City, will provide a valuable forum in which the hemisphere’s democracies can address and advance shared goals of strengthening democratic institutions and stimulating economic prosperity through free trade and education. We reaffirm our support for the creation of the Free Trade Area of the Americas as soon as possible.

We believe our two nations can now build an authentic partnership for prosperity, based on shared democratic values and open dialogue, that provides greater benefits for our people. We want to move beyond the limitations of the past and boldly seize the unprecedented opportunity before us. In order to achieve these goals and follow-up on the commitments we reached today, we have agreed to meet as frequently as necessary during our mandates. We will do so as friends, in a spirit of mutual trust and respect.