Gov. Urges Stronger Ties With Mexico

Stressing his love of Mexico, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasized his goal of stronger ties with the country in his weekly radio address Saturday.

Looking to boost his image with Latinos at home, Schwarzenegger visited Mexico on Friday, meeting with his Baja California counterpart in talks on security and immigration.

“Mexico is our No. 1 trading partner, and I am proud that we have increased trade with Mexico by 16% last year alone,” Schwarzenegger said Saturday. “Our trade relationship supports as many as 200,000 California jobs and generates nearly $160 billion for our economy.”

Schwarzenegger and Gov. Eugenio Elorduy pledged to maintain “a permanent working relationship,” and the California governor said he planned to return to Mexico to meet with President Vicente Fox.

The governors also will continue cooperating mutually to support their tourist industries, boosting the number of traffic lanes at border points and attracting manufacturing operations to a high-tech industrial park in Baja known as the Silicon Border, Schwarzenegger said.

“California and Mexico are kindred spirits, and enjoy a very special relationship with a shared border, strong cultural ties and a regional partnership that benefits both of us,” he said.

But he also acknowledged that the two must confront illegal immigration, human and drug trafficking, threats to the environment and other issues.