Bush to meet Mexican president-elect Felipe Calderon

U.S. President George W. Bush will meet Mexico's president-elect Felipe Calderon at the White House on Nov. 9, White House spokesman Tony Snow said Thursday.

"Mexico is an important hemispheric partner of the United States, and the President looks forward to meeting with President- elect Calderon prior to his inauguration on December 1," Snow told reporters.

"President Bush and President-elect Calderon will discuss a range of global, regional, and bilateral issues, including ways to strengthen cooperation between the United States and Mexico, and enhance competitiveness, free trade, economic growth, and security in North America," Snow said.

The scheduled summit comes amid U.S.-Mexico tensions on a range of issues, including the U.S. Congress's vote in favor of erecting a border security fence that supporters say will curb undocumented immigration into the United States.

The United States shares some 3,200 km of common border. It was reported that tens of thousands of Mexicans migrated illegally to the United States.

Source: Xinhua