[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 37, Number 8 (Monday, February 26, 2001)]
[Pages 304-305]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Joint Statement by President George Bush and President Vicente Fox 
Towards a Partnership for Prosperity: the Guanajuato Proposal

February 16, 2001

    We met today at Rancho San Cristobal, in Guanajuato, in a dialogue 
of friends and neighbors to 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. And, we are committed to ensuring the rule of 
law, the framework on which our people's freedom and prosperity depends. 
This common outlook is the basis for a full, mature, and equitable 
partnership for prosperity.
    Among our highest priorities is unfettering the economic potential 
of every citizen, so each may contribute fully 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 whose 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. We believe that Mexico 
should make the most of the skills and productivity of their workers at 
home, and we agree there

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should be an orderly framework for migration which ensures humane 
treatment, legal security, and dignified labor conditions. For this 
purpose, we are instructing our Governments to engage, at the earliest 
opportunity, 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 
U.S. and the Secretary of Foreign Relations and the Secretary of the 
Interior of Mexico.
    We attach the utmost importance to issues affecting the 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, 
as well as develop closer and more trusting bilateral and multilateral 
cooperation. We want to reduce the demand for drugs and eliminate 
narcotrafficking organizations. To this end, we will undertake immediate 
steps to review law enforcement policies and coordination efforts in 
accordance with each country's national jurisdiction. We will consult 
with our NAFTA partner Canada regarding development of a North American 
approach to the important issue of energy resources. Building on the 
strength of our respective cultures, we will seek to expand our 
partnership broadly 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 our people's well-being 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 a 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 
bring great benefits to 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 made today, we have agreed to meet frequently, as 
necessary, over the course of our respective terms of office. We will do 
so as friends, in a spirit of mutual trust and respect.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement. This item was not received in time for publication 
in the appropriate issue.