Strengthening Ties and Promoting Inclusive Growth: Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena's Productive Visit to Washington D.C.
Image: https://twitter.com/aliciabarcena/status/1720459810980982955
Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena recently concluded a pivotal three-day visit to Washington, D.C., representing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the first summit of the Americas Partnership for Economic Prosperity (APEP). Her mission was to engage in dialogue on enhancing bilateral ties and fostering economic integration across the Americas.
During her visit, Bárcena held a series of meetings with influential U.S. senators, including Republicans and Democrats, to discuss the progress of the High-Level Economic Dialogue, the High-Level Security Dialogue, and the Palenque Declaration. Senators Bill Cassidy and Michael Bennet highlighted the value of the bilateral relationship, noting the impressive return on investment the U.S. receives from Mexico, which is significantly higher than from other trading partners like China.
Secretary Bárcena participated in the APEP-IDB Responsible Investment Forum, advocating for public-private partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean to tackle the region's stark inequalities. She emphasized Mexico's role as a leading U.S. trading partner, with bilateral trade reaching $855 billion, and promoted nearshoring and reshoring strategies. She called for investment in border infrastructure to facilitate trade and address security concerns, identifying electromobility, medical equipment, and semiconductors as key sectors for investment.
On her third day, Bárcena met with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other regional leaders to discuss strategies for robust and equitable economic growth. The APEP summit concluded with a commitment to five priorities aimed at fostering regional competitiveness, shared prosperity, sustainable infrastructure, environmental protection, and healthy communities.
In a significant outreach effort, Bárcena also met with the Mexican and Mexican-American communities in Washington, D.C., to listen to their experiences and reinforce the strategies for timely assistance and services. These meetings underscored the importance of the diaspora in strengthening bilateral relations and ensuring the well-being of Mexicans abroad.
This visit marked a step forward in reinforcing economic ties, addressing shared challenges, and promoting inclusive growth within the Americas, with a clear vision for a collaborative and prosperous future.
Sources:
https://twitter.com/aliciabarcena
https://www.gob.mx/sre/en/articulos/foreign-secretary-barcena-concludes-visit-to-washington-d-c-350521?idiom=en
