Mexican President, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador whipped through Belize on Saturday as part of a tour of Central America and Cuba. He spent all of four hours - most of it meeting with Prime Minister John Briceno and then lunching with senior government officials.
7news was at the airport to see his arrival and Daniel Ortiz reports:
For his first official visit to Belize, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, arrived a few minutes after midday on Saturday.
Shortly after his Presidential Jet, Mexicana," touched down at the PGIA, he was warmly welcomed by members of Belize's military, plain-clothes police, and Belize's Foreign Affairs Ministry representatives.
First to greet him on Belizean soil were the Foreign Affairs CEO, Amalia Mai, Foreign Affairs Minister Eamon Courtenay, and Ambassador Oscar Arnold.
The President's trip to Belize was scheduled to last only a few hours. So, the Belize Government's logistical arrangements were promptly activated.
President López Obrador and his entourage were quickly transported to the Laing Building in Belize City, where he and Prime Minister John Briceno were expected to engage in bilateral talks to deepen friendship and collaboration between their neighboring countries.
Prime Minister Briceno told us a few hours earlier that trade would feature as an important topic in his discussions with the Mexican President.
John Briceno - Prime Minister of Belize
"We've been trying to get open markets, certainly in the US, Europe, etc., but Mexico is right next to us. We have approximately 120 million Mexicans, and they need to eat. We are right next door. It's just a river that separates us. So, we're looking at the opportunities in cattle and certain products. For instance, I know they've been asking about sorghum and if we can grow sorghum in Belize for them. We're looking at the issues of certain fruits and vegetables where we have a competitive advantage, certain other meats like poultry, pork, and eggs: food. When we look at Mexico, as I told the President the last time I was with him - and other colleagues in Mexico - we're not interested in selling to them all the way in way in Monterrey. If we can sell to them in Quintana Roo alone, that is more than enough for us. Quintana Roo has what - 8-10 million visitors coming in, and Quintana Roo does not have a strong agricultural industry. So, we are trying to find ways how we can get our shrimp, our fish, and the other seafood that we'll be able to sell. It's an opportunity that we can have, and if we convince them - and I think we're almost there - to reduce the taxes that they charge for our products, we're going to be competitive, and then that will be a lot of opportunities for our people."
During his remarks, the President thanked the Government and the people of Belize for their warmth and hospitality.
H.E. Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador - President of Mexico (Translated)
"It's a pleasure to be in this country with these people, neighbors, and brothers of our Republic. Our countries share history, culture, and borders."
