FOURTH MEETING OF THE MEXICO-HONDURAS BINATIONAL COMMISSION

The Foreign Ministry reports the conclusion today of the fourth meeting of the Mexico-Honduras Binational Commission, the main bilateral forum for political dialogue. The meeting was chaired by the Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Ambassador Norma Pensado Moreno, and the Honduran Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mireya Agüero de Corrales. The political, economic, trade and finance and cooperation subcommittees met over the course of the two-day binational meeting.

In political affairs, both delegations stressed the deep friendship between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to democratic values and institutions. They reviewed security and law enforcement issues, expressed their determination to strengthen bilateral programs such as the Mexico-Honduras Cooperation Committee against Drug Trafficking and Abuse and to promote the Hemispheric Scheme against Transnational Organized Crime.

In regional and multilateral affairs, the two sides acknowledged the Tuxtla Mechanism as the main Mesoamerican forum for political dialogue and agreed to strengthen its role. They highlighted Mexico’s contribution to infrastructure projects that promote the integration and development of the region through the Mesoamerica Project and Infrastructure Fund for Mesoamerican and Caribbean countries (Yucatan Agreement.) They also reviewed the issues of climate change, the legal aspects of sending and receiving humanitarian disaster aid and nominations for international organizations that are of interest to both countries. Mexico also offered its full support for Honduras’ Presidency pro tempore of the Central American Commission of Directors of Migration (OCAM).

Regarding economics, the Mexican and Honduran delegations noted the favorable trend of bilateral trade and investment: since the entry into force of the Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), trade between the two countries has increased fivefold. This positive trend will be enhanced with the full entry into force of the free trade agreement between Mexico and the Central American countries.

During the meeting, the 2011-2013 Technical and Scientific Cooperation Program was also reviewed. The delegations agreed to hold the next meeting of the Binational Commission in 2014, in Honduras, at a date to be determined through diplomatic channels.