GERMANY: FRANKFURT: VICENTE FOX VISITS скачать в хорошем качестве

GERMANY: FRANKFURT: VICENTE FOX VISITS

(29 Jan 2001) Spanish/Nat Mexican President Vicente Fox spent Monday in Frankfurt, promoting Mexico as a more democratic and trade-friendly country to business leaders. Fox is looking to drum up better transatlantic business ties with his country's second-biggest trade partner. An ardent free-trade advocate and former Coca Cola executive, Fox made the trip to Germany after the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In Frankfurt, he met with business leaders and Wim Duisenberg, president of the European Central Bank, before heading back to Mexico. During his visit, Fox praised the trade agreement Mexico signed last year with the European Union, a pact he hopes will be as successful as the North American Free Trade Agreement with the United States and Canada. Fox said his country could be an economic bridge between Europe and America, noting that both regions have free-trade pacts with Mexico but not with each other. It is not the first time Fox has tried to woo business interests in Germany, Mexico's second-biggest importer and second-biggest trade partner after the United States. In September, Fox visited as president-elect and won a pledge from Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of a "new dynamic" in the two countries' relationship. Germany is the fifth-largest foreign investor in Mexico, with roughly 750 companies operating there. But Fox also wants smaller-and middle-sized companies to see Mexico as a place to do business in North America. Fox took office on December 1, ending the Institutional Revolutionary Party's 71-year grip on power. Since then, he has tirelessly traveled to Europe, the United States, Canada and Central and South America to promote economic ties. In Frankfurt on Monday, Fox also met officials from the Frankfurt airport about possible investments in Mexican airports. Fox also spoke about the peace process in Chiapas. He said many Mexicans had their hopes pinned on the Zapatista march to Mexico City which begins on February 26. Subcomandante Marcos will lead a group of 24 delegates from the National Zapatista Liberation Army (EZLN) from Chiapas to Mexico City. There, they are due to talk about a draft bill on indigenous rights and culture. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "The conversation was very interesting because in Mexico at the moment there is big airport developments underway. There are great opportunities for investment in the good business which are Mexican airports. They are privatised and open to private investment, or the mixed state and private which exists in airports all round the world." SUPER CAPTION: Vicente Fox, Mexican President SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Mexicans, women and men, children and adults alike, all express hope that the moment for peace has come. The whole world is watching with hope that the visit and the march (on February 26 the Zapatistas are marching from Chiapas to Mexico City) of the Zapatistas and Sebastian Guillin (the Mexican authorities say this is Subcomandante Marcos' real name) will bring us to the resolution of this conflict and bring peace to Chiapas and put everyone to work." SUPER CAPTION: Vicente Fox, Mexican President Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...