MEXICO CITY, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Mexico should consolidate a dialogue mechanism with Central American nations to promote socio-economic development in the region and meet its present challenges more effectively, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said Monday.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the 13th Summit of the Mechanism of Tuxtla Dialogue and Agreement in the southeastern Mexican city of Merida, Calderon called on member nations of the forum to make greater efforts to beef up regional security.
"This meeting provides an excellent opportunity to assess the progress of the commitments and define new actions to more effectively combat drug trafficking, arms trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking," he said.
On the basis of the progress the forum has made, Mexico and other member nations should boost the dialogue mechanism "with renewed determination," Calderon said.
Mexico has an unwavering commitment to Central America's integration and transformation," he said. "Mexico will continue supporting the construction of a united region for its welfare and prosperity, security and freedom, justice and democracy."
The president also stressed the importance of a free trade agreement approved by Mexico and Central America earlier in the day, saying it will bring more economic exchanges, output and employment to the region with a potential market of 150 million consumers.
The Mechanism of Tuxtla Dialogue and Agreement was created as a regional forum in 1991, when leaders of Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico and Nicaragua met in Tuxtla, capital of Chiapas state in Mexico and signed a declaration aimed at maintaining peace and democracy in Central America.
