The Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jose Manuel Albaresstressed this Thursday the “will to relaunch and strengthen” relations with Mexico after meeting with his Mexican counterpart, Marcelo Ebrardwithin the framework of the XIII Binational Commission, meeting with which both governments sought to leave behind the tensions of the beginning of the year.
“It is impossible to pause relations between Spain and Mexico, because it is impossible to pause relations between two brother countries“, assured Albares in a brief press conference with Ebrard when asked about the”pause” of relations with Spain requested last February by the Mexican president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
That call from López Obrador caused unusual friction between the two countries.
The Spanish Foreign Minister said that the bilateral relationship is in “excellent health” and highlighted “the desire to relaunch and strengthen this link” given the close cultural, economic and social proximity.
It might interest you: Arturo Zaldívar renders his last report as president of the SCJN and presumes an end to corruption
Cooperation projects at the door
In addition to Albares, four other ministers of the Spanish Executive also participated in the bilateral meeting, which had not been held since 2017: Reyes Maroto, Minister of Industry and Commerce; Miquel Iceta, Minister of Culture; Pilar Alegría, Minister of Education, and Joan Subirats, Minister of Universities.
For his part, The Mexican foreign minister described the holding of the meeting as “good news” and “a great success.”
Obviously, it is authorized by the president (López Obrador), he was very pleased that it was carried out. What the president then referred to with the pause is a reflection on where the bilateral relationship is headed. As far as the bilateral relationship is concerned, we are entering a relaunch,” said the Mexican foreign minister.
Both governments also agreed to relaunch “cooperation projects”, especially in Central America, and announced that Spain will be the guest of honor at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) in 2024, the most important Spanish-language literary event in the world.
Finally, Albares stressed that Spain, which will assume the presidency of the European Union (EU) in the second half of 2023, will use that position to place “Latin America, and of course Mexico, at the heart of Europe.”
The next meeting of the Mexico-Spain Binational Commission will be held in 2024 in Madrid.
The last:
EFE International news agency based in Madrid and present in more than 110 countries.