Vice President Biden met with President Enrique Peña Nieto of Mexico while in Mexico City to attend his inauguration on Saturday. The Vice President congratulated President Peña Nieto on his election victory and inauguration and underscored the U.S. commitment to continue working closely with Mexico in a spirit of partnership and shared responsibility to meet common challenges. The Vice President and President Peña Nieto discussed ways to increase prosperity in both countries and manage our shared border in a way that promotes security, while facilitating legitimate commerce and travel. The Vice President welcomed Mexico’s commitment to reaching a high-standards agreement as part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership process.
Vice President Biden also met with President Juan Manuel Santos of Colombia while in Mexico City. The Vice President reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to our relationship with Colombia and underscored support for the Santos administration as it works toward a durable peace at home. The Vice President and President Santos discussed areas of mutual interest, including economic growth, security, and human rights. The Vice President thanked President Santos for Colombia’s leadership during its term on the UN Security Council, acknowledged Colombia’s valuable contributions on a range of global issues, and highlighted the importance of continued regional security cooperation.