Obama meets new Mexican leader

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

— President Barack Obama hailed an “ambitious reform agenda” set forth by the incoming president of Mexico as he and President-elect Enrique Pena Nieto met Tuesday at the White House.

Obama said it was fitting that the men were meeting even before Pena Nieto takes office Saturday, calling it a sign of the close relationship between the two countries.

“What happens in Mexico has an impact on our society,” Obama said before the OvalOffice meeting, which also included Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Obama said he had forged a close working relationship with outgoing Mexican President Felipe Calderon and was confident he could establish a similar “close personal and professional relationship” with Pena Nieto, leader of Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party.

Pena Nieto congratulated Obama on winning a second term and said he was looking forward to strengthening already close relations between the countries.

Front Section, Pages 3 on 11/28/2012