Jamaica will be pursuing 13 bilateral projects with the Mexican Government over the next two years, according to Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Minister, Anthony Hylton.

Mr. Hylton made the announcement yesterday while opening the seventh Jamaica/Mexico Binational Commission at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where a Jamaican delegation met with a 17-member delegation from Mexico.

He said the projects to be undertaken would be in the areas of administrative development, agro-industrial development, science, energy and mining.

The minister said yesterday's meeting would also afford the team to re-evaluate the bilateral cooperation and to explore new avenues for cooperation.

"We will not ignore the global political and economic issues that confront us and on which we can secure a consensus for action," he said. "I anticipate that today's (yesterday) deliberations will stimulate fresh ideas and direct our energies to achieving an even more solid and meaningful relationship."

The discussions were focused on ways in which both countries can explore collaboration in the development of cultural policy and creative industries and promotion of cultural exchanges.

Economic cooperation

The meeting also examined matters relatingto economic cooperation, trade and investment.

Secretary of Foreign Relations of Mexico, Ambassador Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, who also spoke at the opening ceremony, said yesterday's meeting would enable both countries to strengthen cooperation.

Of note, she said was the discussions of a joint working group on combating illegal trafficking in Drugs and Drug Abuse. She said it was imperative that both countries join together in combating illegal trafficking in drugs.