[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.