Mexican president-elect visits Colombia

Colombian President Alvaro Uribe met with Mexican President-Elect Felipe Calderon on Wednesday and discussed trade issues, the fight against drug trafficking, energy and Colombia's peace process.

Colombian Foreign Minister Maria Consuelo Araujo welcomed Calderon ahead of the meeting.

Calderon, who arrived from Costa Rica on Tuesday night, also held separate talks with Araujo, Colombia's legislature, the nation's ministers of justice, defense, transport, and commerce, as well as its chief of police and attorney general.

A non-governmental organization (NGO) has asked Calderon to help with the negotiations between the Uribe government and the country's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, in any future peace process.

Spain, France and Switzerland are already assisting with the process, and NGOs would also like help from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Venezuela.

Calderon has visited El Salvador, Honduras and Costa Rica, and will travel on to Peru, Chile and Argentina, before wrapping up his tour in Brazil on Friday.

Calderon will be sworn in on Dec. 1 as Mexico's new president, replacing Vincente Fox.

Source: Xinhua