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Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto congratulated U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, on Wednesday and stated he is ready to work to improve bilateral relations.
Posting on Twitter, Pena Nieto wrote that Mexico and the U.S. are friends, partners and allies, which must continue working to increase the competitiveness and development of North America.
"I trust Mexico and the U.S. will continue tightening their bonds of cooperation and mutual respect," he said.
Trump defeated his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton, on Tuesday in an upset that few had predicted. He based much of his campaign on pulling the U.S. out of NAFTA, the free-trade agreement signed with Canada and Mexico in 1994, as well as building a wall along the Mexican border.
In August, Trump was invited by Pena Nieto to meet in Mexico City, at which time the Mexican president explained that his people had felt insulted by Trump's comments and that his country would not pay for the wall.
Also on Wednesday, Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz Massieu made it clear that Mexico would absolutely not pay for the wall.
According to the minister, the Mexican government wishes to continue collaboration with the U.S. and to seek opportunities with its closest trading partner.
"The Mexican government has been clear and emphatic that paying for a wall is outside our intent," said Ruiz Massieu, adding that the two countries must instead work together.
Long seen as hollow campaign threats, Trump's pledges took on a new reality as it became apparent he would win last night.
Finally, Ruiz Massieu said that the Mexican government would seek spaces for dialogue and understanding with the Trump administration to find ways to defend the interests of the 35.5 million Mexican-Americans in the U.S..
(APD)
