Mexican President Felipe Calderon,(C)US President Barack Obama (L) and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper talk before NAFTA summit, 10 Aug 2009The leaders of the United States, Mexico and Canada have pledged to cooperate to restore economic growth and fight the spread of swine influenza A-H1N1.
President Barack Obama, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, and Mexican President Felipe Calderon made the pledge after meeting for a second and final day in Guadalajara, Mexico.
President Obama said the three leaders renewed commitments to ensure economic growth.
In a joint statement, the leaders also said they discussed plans to build up public health capacities and share information about the swine flu pandemic more efficiently.
The leaders also noted that transnational criminal networks threaten all three countries. President Obama praised Mexican President Calderon for his efforts against drug cartels. Mr. Obama said he is confident in Mexico's ability to fight the cartels while upholding human rights.
Mr. Obama also said common prosperity in all three countries depends on legal migration. He said his administration will continue to work to fix the "broken" immigration system of the United States.
Mr. Calderon told President Obama late Sunday that the U.S. should move faster to send Mexico the $1.4 billion it has promised as part of the Merida Initiative to fight organized crime. One hundred million dollars has been delayed because some U.S. lawmakers are concerned about alleged human rights abuses by the Mexican army.
Monday, Mr. Calderon said his country has a clear commitment for human rights.
Discussions also covered concerns about the "Buy American" elements of the U.S. economic stimulus program, which requires public works projects funded by tax money to use U.S.-made materials. Mr. Obama said Mr. Harper raised the topic. Mr. Obama saying that it has in no way endangered the billions of dollars in trade taking place between the U.S. and Canada.
Prime Minister Harper is to meet Mr. Obama at the White House next month, and all three leaders plan to attend the G-20 summit of major and developing economies, in Pittsburgh, in the eastern U.S. state of Pennsylvania.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
