By Eliane Portillo

Mexican President Felipe Calderon welcomed his Dominican counterpart, Leonel Fernandez Reyna, who is paying an official state visit to this country on Tuesday.

Calderon recognized the Dominican head of State, who also attended the 13th Summit of the Tuxtla Mechanism for Dialogue, a great friend of Mexico, adding that his visit will strengthen ties between the two nations. Calderon also recalled that Mexicans and Dominicans have a common history, language and culture, as well as a deep Latin American identity.

We are united in the fight for justice, democracy and freedom, said the Mexican leader.

According to Calderon, both nations defend their citizen’s freedom from new enemies, such as transnational organized crime, which captures markets and accumulates wealth by making use of a new and unprecedented type of inhumane violence.

The Dominican leader thanked the official welcome and highlighted that his country and Mexico share common interests and challenges. He noted the need to achieve greater competitiveness and stable economies to guarantee sustainable development and contribute to reducing poverty and social inequality.