THE SPANISH SECRETARY OF STATE FOR INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND IBEROAMERICA IN MEXICO

Foreign Secretary Jose Antonio Meade met today with the Spanish Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Iberoamerica, Jesus Manuel Gracia Aldaz, who is on a working visit to Mexico.

The two officials exchanged views on various international issues and agreed that the ties between Mexico and Spain have reached an excellent level due to their extensive bilateral, multilateral and regional cooperation. They agreed that both Foreign Ministries would continue to work together closely to strengthen the relationship.

Foreign Secretary Meade reiterated President Pena Nieto’s firm commitment to working with the government of President Mariano Rajoy to broaden and deepen all aspects of the bilateral agenda.

Mr. Gracia Aldaz also met with the Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs, Carlos de Icaza, and the Undersecretary for Latin America and the Caribbean, Vanessa Rubio, with whom he discussed in detail both bilateral and regional issues. They specifically discussed the high-level visits that will be made in the medium-term, the state of various educational, cultural and scientific-technical cooperation programs, and cooperation within the Iberoamerican Summits and the Pacific Alliance, in which Spain participates as observer.

Undersecretary de Icaza mentioned President Peña Nieto’s visit to Madrid as president-elect in October 2012, and his meetings with King Juan Carlos; the Prince of Asturias; the Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy; and Spanish businessmen. He also mentioned that the Mexican Foreign Ministry is willing to host the 11th meeting of the binational commission in 2014.