U.S.-Mexico relationship is very important: Kerry

Secretary of State John Kerry said that the bilateral relationship with Mexico is extremely important, after a meeting in Quebec City with the Mexican Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Claudia Ruiz Massieu.

Kerry and Massieu met in Quebec before the launch of the Summit of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of North America, sponsored by their Canadian counterpart, Stephane Dion.

Through his Twitter account, Kerry said that during the meeting with Massieu the two spoke about "the deep and growing connection" between the two countries.

Shortly before the meeting with Massieu, Kerry had a talk with Dion.

In an article published today in The Globe and Mail, Massieu defended a greater economic integration and mobility between the three North American partners.

"Now more than ever, leaders in North America need to be more committed to achieving greater economic integration. This integration can and should be achieved by increasing our regulatory cooperation and facilitating trade between our countries through improved transportation links and efficient infrastructure," she wrote.

Ruiz Massieu added that "North American leaders are aware that this economic integration has to be accompanied not only by trade facilitation, but also by greater people mobility. This is why we are working tirelessly to launch a common North American Trusted Traveller Program, which will speed up the movement of tourists and business executives between our three countries.

"We must ensure that the more than 470-million people living in North America have access to better opportunities," she expressed.