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During a flying visit to Mexico on Wednesday, U.S. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump highlighted the need to make changes to the U.S.-Mexico border to tackle illegal immigration, weapons and drugs.
After meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto for over an hour, the U.S. tycoon said at a joint news conference that it is a shared obligation for the two countries to counter illegal border activities.
"Nobody wins, neither of the two countries would, when drug traffickers take advantage of people, when there is cartel violence, when there are illegal weapons and money flowing from one country to the other, or when Central American migrants make the dangerous journey towards Mexico or the United States without legal authorization," Trump said.
Trump described his first private meeting with the Mexican president as positive and called Pena Nieto "a friend."
Trump said the meeting allowed him to discuss with Pena Nieto some interests and necessary issues relevant to his country and the well-being of the U.S. citizens, as well as the needs of Mexico and its citizens.
To improve U.S.-Mexico relations, Trump presented five concrete points, including stemming illegal immigration, securing border, dismantling drug cartels, updating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and keeping manufacturing wealth in the Western Hemisphere.
The NAFTA between Canada, Mexico and the United States came into play in January 1994, but in Trump's opinion, it does not "reflect the realities of today."
"The two nations should work together for mutual benefit," Trump said, adding that he has "great respect" for Mexican-Americans and Mexicans.
Since the start of his campaign, the Republican candidate has made aggressive statements against immigrants and has called Mexicans drug traffickers, rapists and murderers.
Trump has also said the remittances from the United States to Mexico would be blocked if the Mexican government refuses to pay for a border wall estimated to cost billions of U.S. dollars if constructed.
The wall designed to separate the U.S. and Mexican territories along a 2,000-mile border was a signature campaign proposal of Trump's.
Trump's visit came as Pena Nieto extended invitation to both U.S. presidential candidates. Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton still has not confirmed if she will be travelling to Mexico.
The meeting between Pena Nieto and Trump took place a few hours ahead of the U.S. candidate's speech on immigration policy back in the United States, where Trump reiterated his hard-line rhetoric on immigration.
The United States is Mexico's main trading partner, the first destination for Mexican exports and a main contributor to foreign direct investment within the Latin American country, with bilateral trade reaching over 530 billion U.S. dollars in 2015.
Around 11.4 million people who were born in Mexico currently live in the United States, while around 1 million U.S. citizens live in Mexico.
（APD）
