New Mexican President Felipe Calderon visited Belize over the weekend. He arrived in San Pedro on Friday for the Tuxtla and SICA summits and began an official state visit in Belmopan on Saturday morning. After an official welcome ceremony on the National Assembly stairs, he met with the Governor General and then privately with Prime Minister Said Musa after which both delegations met. A joint press conference followed in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' building where Musa says talks focused on continued cooperation between Belize and Mexico.
Rt. Hon. Said Musa,
"The President and I have had the opportunity to engage in some positive discussions on ways of strengthening and broadening the good relations that already exist between our two countries. We have broken ground on new areas of cooperation including border security, agriculture, fisheries, health, trade, and tourism. We have firmed up and agreed to strengthen programs that already exist between us. We are pleased for example that the President has confirmed the continuing offer of his government to provide scholarships at the undergraduate, graduate, and vocational training levels for Belizeans to study at Mexican institutions. We have agreed to complete this year, hopefully by the end of this year, the new International Bridge at our northern border. Mexico today is an important partner in Belize's social and economic development and may the bonds of friendship that unite us, continue to strengthen under the inspired leadership of H.E. Felipe Calderon."
After the press conference - president Calderon had lunch at the George Price Center after which he was conferred with Belize's highest honor, the Order of Belize by Prime Minister Musa. He left Belize shortly after.
During the visit president Calderon signed an agreement with Belize's Minister of Works Mike Espat in which Mexico committed to finance the construction of the access road to the Belize-Mexico International Bridge on the Belize side. President Calderon and Prime Minister Musa also signed a communiqué that deals with the continued cooperation between Belize and Mexico.
