The Hindu : Front Page : “Mexico has privileged partnership with India”

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Friday, Apr 18, 2008
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“Mexico has privileged partnership with India”

Gargi Parsai

Pratibha Patil’s address to Mexican Parliament cancelled

MEXICO CITY: Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday described the visit of President Pratibha Patil to Mexico as “historic” and said it would carry the “privileged partnership” between the two countries to new heights. The visit would consolidate the presence of India as a whole in the region, he added.

The two sides later signed agreements on technical and scientific cooperation in Renewable Energy and on Air Services.

He was speaking at a ceremonial reception accorded to Ms. Patil at Los Pinos, the official residence of the President. However, President Patil’s address to the joint session of the Mexican Parliament was cancelled late on Wednesday night in the face of a standoff between President Calderon’s National Action Party (PAN) and the Left-led opposition Democratic Revolution Party on the government’s energy reforms bill.

In an unprecedented move, both houses of Congress were held in an alternative auditorium in view of the ‘dharna’ in the House.

Ms. Patil’s address was called off after late night talks between the ruling party and the Opposition failed to reach an agreement on allowing the House to run. The Democratic Revolution Party accuses Mr. Calderon’s party of trying to force a bill that allows foreign companies a larger role in the oil sector.

Warm reception

None of this, however, marred the warm, ceremonial reception to Ms. Patil. Several school children added colour and gaiety to the occasion as they waved Indian and Mexican flags. President Patil inspected a guard of honour.

Mr. Calderon said open communication would address bilateral and multilateral issues in a “constructive and positive” way. Both countries were now ready for greater exchange in education and for greater partnership in the G-8 group.

Ms. Patil opened her brief address with a greeting in Spanish that brought smiles to the faces of President Calderon and his wife Margarita Zavala. She said India and Mexico faced common challenges for which solutions would have to be found in political governance rooted in plural democracy. “Our over-riding challenge is inclusive growth, not simply growth.”

President Patil later paid homage at the National Heroes Memorial. She later attended a state banquet in her honour and a reception hosted by Indian ambassador in Mexico Rinzing Wangdi. The two Presidents also held bilateral talks.

She will be in Mexico till Sunday.

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