Lunch hosted by H.E. Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico

Lunch hosted by H.E. Enrique Peña Nieto President of Mexico

Remarks by Michael D. Higgins President of Ireland

National Palace, Mexico City

Monday, 21st October, 2013

Distinguido Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos, Licenciado Enrique Peña Nieto, Distinguida Sra. Angélica Rivera de Peña, Distinguidos representantes de los poderes legislativos y judiciales, Señores Secretarios, Distinguidos representantes de las comitivas oficiales de México e Irlanda, Amigas y Amigos,

Es para mí un gran privilegio estar aquí para gozar de su distinguida compañía en el magnífico entorno del Palacio Nacional.

Sr. Presidente, aprecio profundamente el gran honor que me ha concedido, así como a mi país, al invitarme a realizar esta visita a México. Le agradezco sinceramente a usted y a la Sra. Angélica Rivera de Peña la calidez de la bienvenida que recibimos mi esposa Sabina y yo.

[It is a great privilege to be here today in your distinguished company and in the magnificent surroundings of the Palacio Nacional.

[Sr. Presidente, I am deeply appreciative for the great honour that you have bestowed upon me, and upon my country, in inviting me to make this visit to Mexico. I thank you and Sra. Angélica Rivera de Peña most sincerely for the warmth of the welcome which has been extended to my wife Sabina and I.]

Sr. Presidente, as I mentioned to you when we met earlier, this is not my first visit to Mexico. I first visited as a student in 1967 when Mexican friends introduced me to your wonderful country. Clearly much has changed in the intervening period.

But what has not changed are the special qualities of Mexico and the Mexican people, the tangible and spiritual gifts, of this land and its people. Then, as now, I have been profoundly impressed by your extraordinary heritage and the value which the Mexican people attach to this legacy. I remember still the pride with which my Mexican friends turned to me 46 years ago as soon as we had crossed the border with the United States – “You are in Mexico now,” and I could feel it.

Today we are gathered amidst an exhilarating blend of past and present manifestations of Mexican life. This Palacio Nacional, and the Zocaló on which it is located, resonate with a colonial past but interwoven below and between these buildings are reminders of Mexico’s rich lineage of earlier civilisations such as that represented in the Aztec Templo Mayor, just a few short metres away from where we are gathered.

This extraordinary heritage which you protect so carefully, and in an exemplary fashion, provides Mexico with a rich complexity to its identity. The respect for the diverse legacy of this heritage provides a depth that adds real value to contemporary society in Mexico. A culture respected at home becomes all the more valuable and attractive for those who will visit.

Later this week, I look forward to delivering an address at the Secretaría de Relaciones Exteriores. A theme running through my address will be that of the importance we in Ireland attach to the strong Irish thread that is woven through the rich tapestry of Mexican history and culture. I hope to recall some of the many Irish people who came to Mexico and settled here, and who brought their own values and stories to these shores.

I may recall, for example, the narratives of those early Irish settlers such as Guillén Lambardo or William Lamport, born in Ireland and known as the ‘precursor of Mexican independence’ who, in the seventeenth century, championed the then radical ideas of racial equality, representative government and national independence. I will also make reference to figures such as Juan O’Donojú, the last Viceroy of Nueva España,

President Michael D. Higgins with President Enrique Peña Nieto, President of Mexico at the Palacio Nacional in Mexico City. the man who accepted the independence of Mexico in 1821, and as a result risked not only the end of a distinguished career but even his own life.

Particularly well-known in Mexico is John Riley and the Batallón de San Patricio that he led. The gallantry and sacrifice of ‘los San Patricios’ who chose to join the Mexican cause and gave their lives for their adopted ‘Patria’ in the war of 1846-1848 is widely recognised in Mexico.

The San Patricios are honoured on the Wall of Honour in the Mexican Cámera de Diputados where they are described as ‘Defensores de la Patria’; and we in Ireland are moved when it is pointed out to us that they are the only non-Mexicans to be so honoured.

Sr. Presidente, Ladies and Gentlemen,

The peoples of Mexico and Ireland, our respective pueblos share a natural affinity with each other. We also share a deep appreciation of our respective diasporas, and of the rich contribution that those diasporas have made, continue to make and will make, to developments in the homeland, as well as in their adopted homes.

I very much welcome the presence here today of representatives of our Irish community in Mexico, and I would like to thank them for their contribution to the positive bilateral relations between our two countries.

An important aspect of these warm relations between our peoples and their governments is, of course, trade and business and I am delighted that Mexico is one of Ireland’s top twenty commercial partners in the world. At the heart of successful and sustained trading relations are, of course, people to people connections.

I am very encouraged that some of Ireland’s most innovative and dynamic enterprises have invested in Mexico. Many of them are represented here with their key Mexican partners and I am very pleased that what we are witnessing today is the deepening of partnerships – partnerships which will contribute to economic prosperity, job creation and academic and scientific collaborations between our two countries.

Ireland has recently, as you know, been dealing with the impact of a painful recession. We are working hard to rebalance our national economy and to return to a path of sustainable and inclusive growth. We are now, I am happy to say, emerging slowly – but I hope in a sustainable fashion – from our difficulties and we have returned to real, if as yet modest, growth.

Our recovery is supported by factors such as our continued attractiveness as a location for investment, not least due to the highly educated quality of our labour force, and our growth continues to be driven by our robust export performance.

Tomorrow, I will be travelling to the Cumbre de Negocios in Guadalajara and will have the honour to be the first serving European Head of State or Government to address that prestigious forum.

I hope that my presence there will encourage even more Mexican and Irish businesses to consider greater trade and investment partnerships. Ireland is a dynamic, innovative, open market and is a gateway to a European Common Market of almost 500 million people. I will emphasise at the Cumbre also the continued importance of the wider Europe-Mexico relationship.

As an open economy, Ireland’s future is dependent on its connections to our global partners. We are determined to ensure that a sustainable model of development will be based on what we do best: nurturing talented people, creating valuable goods and services, innovating and connecting to key players internationally.

Mexico is a key partner for us and we look forward to Irish and Mexican businesses and universities expanding their relationships in the years ahead. The vision for Mexico which under your leadership, Sr. Presidente, is so impressively outlined in the Pacto por Mexico represents an exciting template of opportunity for further cooperation between our two countries.

As countries that both understand and value the role of education in development, I believe that cooperation between our respective third level institutions, both at a national and inter-institutional level, offers a particularly rich seam of promise and possibility.

I am therefore very encouraged that representatives of five third level institutions in Ireland have accompanied me on this visit to Mexico. You will find them keen to build on the successes they have already encountered in their connections with Latin America, its people and their institutions.

Sr. Presidente,

At a diplomatic level I am delighted to note that in 2015 we will celebrate the 40th anniversary of the opening of official relations between Mexico and Ireland. I am very proud to represent a country and a people that has had positive bonds with Mexico over centuries, and that now looks forward to building deeper links with your country, across a range of interests.

Mexico and Ireland share so many common values. We are strong like-minded partners who work well together in global multilateral fora on areas of common interest and concern – such as sustainable development, non-proliferation and disarmament, human rights and the fight against hunger, undernutrition and climate change.

Nuestras estrechas relaciones bilaterales también han promovido y enriquecido nuestros intercambios culturales en literatura y artes visuales entre artistas mexicanos e irlandeses, tales como las colaboraciones

[Our close bilateral relationship has also fostered and nurtured rich cultural exchanges in literature and the visual arts between Mexican and Irish artists, collaborations such as those between Octavio Paz and Samuel Beckett or, more recently, between Pura López-Colomé and Séamus Heaney.]

Today, the President and I discussed the considerable opportunities for cooperation that clearly exist between our two countries. The collaboration between our governments, between our respective pueblos and between the representatives of Mexican and Irish businesses and universities gathered here today constitutes a vital partnership that is building on the solid foundations of a mutual understanding and empathy. This affinity is rooted in a history which is shared between friends, a history which is embodied in the inspiring memory of the Batallón de San Patricio and other Mexican and Irish women and men who have led the way.

Sr. Presidente, Sra. Angélica Rivera de Peña

Les agradezco nuevamente la cordial bienvenida que ustedes nos han brindado, a mí, a mi esposa Sabina y a nuestra delegación. Espero que podamos recibirles en Irlanda dentro de poco.

[Thank you again for the warm welcome that you have extended to me, my wife Sabina and our delegation. We look forward to receiving you in Ireland in the near future.]

Quiero proponer un brindis

Por el Presidente y por el Pueblo de México

¡Viva México!

¡Viva Irlanda!