    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [March 22, 2002]
    [Pages 482-483]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Dinner Hosted by President Vicente Fox of Mexico in Monterrey
    March 22, 2002

        Senor Presidente, Marta,
    Gobernador, distinguished guests, Laura and
    I thank you for this dinner. And thank you for inviting us to Monterrey,
    a city that is home to so much of Mexico's industry and enterprise and a
    city that embodies Mexico's prosperous future.
         Monterrey has hosted a number of U.S. Presidents over the years, mi
    papa, President Clinton, and President Franklin D. Roosevelt. When
    Presidents Camacho y Roosevelt met here in April of 1943, they affirmed
    our two nations' World War II alliance and agreed to closer economic
    cooperation. Today we meet with a similar purpose. We affirm our shared
    struggle against terror, and we work to promote the great alternatives
    to terror: prosperity and freedom and hope.
         President Fox, I deeply appreciate your friendship and counsel,
    especially since September the 11th. And the people of the United States
    are grateful for your visit to Ground Zero in New York to honor the
    victims. And the world appreciates Mexico's support for the
    international coalition against terrorism. The terrorists have declared
    war on civilization itself, and the civilized world will defeat them.
        It wasn't all that long ago that Laura and I used to live right next
    door to Mexico. During that time, I saw the steady emergence of a more
    confident and more hopeful nation. I saw the strong and growing ties of
    culture and trade and kinship between our countries. Mr. President, your
    election symbolized these changes and has reinforced them. You're a true
    patriot with a compelling vision for a stronger and more prosperous
    Mexico.
         I tell the people of my country that a strong and prosperous Mexico
    is good for the United States. We're working well together, and I am
    confident our important work is just the beginning. We will build on the
    success of the North American Free Trade Agreement, to expand the
    benefits of trade and markets to all of our people. We can build on our
    political cooperation to make real progress on drug trafficking,
    environmental protection. And we will build a border that is more open
    and more secure, and we will confront the issue of migration in a spirit
    of mutual respect.
         The Mexican proverb tells us, Tenemos mal los momentos, es cuando
    se conocen al los amigos.

    [[Page 483]]

        Senor Presidente, the United States knows who our friends are, and
    your enduring friendship allows me--causes me to say, muchas gracias.
    Today, we have a relationship of unprecedented closeness and
    cooperation. By continuing to work together, we can improve the lives of
    the people in our two nations, in our hemisphere, and in our world.
         Mr. President, I offer a toast to you, your gracious wife, and the great friendship between our two
    countries.

    Note: The President spoke at 8 p.m. at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo
    de Monterrey. In his remarks, he referred to President Fox's wife, Marta
    Sahagun de Fox; and Gov. Fernando Canales of Nuevo Leon, Mexico. A tape
    was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.