Mexico seeks new equation with US through dialogue

Mexico City, March 30 (IANS) Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto has said that he is working to build a positive relationship with the US in face of the challenges with its vital trading partner.

He said this at a summit of the Tuxtla Political Dialogue and Consensus Mechanism that gathered leaders from 10 countries of Mesoamerica in San Jose on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency said.

Pena Nieto said the readjustment of ties with the US is "a stage Mexico is going through," adding that he is optimistic that dialogues with the US would lead to "positive results" for both nations.

US President Donald Trump has vowed to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (Nafta) between the US, Mexico and Canada since taking office in January.

He has also tightened immigration policies and vowed to build a wall along the US-Mexico border to fend off illegal immigration.

The Mexican President also thanked his counterparts of Mesoamerican countries for the "displays of solidarity and trust" when Mexico is facing challenges in its relations with the US.

Mexico will not waver in its ties with Mesoamerican countries during this process, especially on such issues of common interests as immigration and economic cooperation, Pena Nieto said.

The Tuxtla Political Dialogue and Consensus Mechanism gathers Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico, Costa Rica and the Dominican Republic.

It was created in 1991 to help the Mesoamerican countries foster free trade, regional integration and seek common stance on key issues.