Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender visited the United Mexican States from 19 to 22 September. The Federal President was thus making up for his visit, which was scheduled to take place in 2020 but cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With this trip, the Federal President wishes to underscore Germany’s interest in a deepened dialogue with partner countries in Latin America.

Federal President Steinmeier held political talks with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in Mexico City. Moreover, the Federal President met Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, was awarded honorary citizenship of Mexico City and gave a speech to the Senate, which is the chamber of the Mexican Congress responsible for foreign policy.

A key pillar of the partnership between the two countries is the strong presence of more than 2000 German companies in Mexico. The Federal President therefore also talked with representatives from the German business community in the region about their views on cooperation. Moreover he held discussions with relatives of victims and with officials from the National Search Commission regarding the violent disappearance of people in Mexico.

On his second stop in Mexico, Federal President Steinmeier traveled to Guadalajara in the federal state of Jalisco in order to gain an impression of the World Book Capital 2022 and location for innovation in Mexico’s second-biggest city. In Guadalajara, the Federal President visited a production and research centre of a German automotive supplier and engaged in a dialogue on innovation with representatives from the business and science communities as well as the political sector.

At the end of his visit, the Federal President visited culture professionals from Guadalajara and attend a concert at the Hospicio Cabañas UNESCO World Heritage site.

Overview of the programme:

Monday, 19 September

• Arrival in Mexico City

Tuesday, 20 September

• Mexico City, Altar a la Patria
  Wreath-laying ceremony
• Delegation hotel
  Breakfast with the German business community
• National Palace
  Welcome with military honours by Andrés Manuel López Obrador, President of the United Mexican States, followed by talks
• Walk across the Zócalo (main square) and tour of the Templo Mayor (main temple)
• City Hall
  Talks with Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, Mayor of Mexico City
• Awarding of honorary citizenship of Mexico City to the Federal President
• Senate of the United Mexican States
  Speech in the Senate
• National Museum of Anthropology
  Tour of the exhibition and reception hosted by the Federal President

Wednesday, 21 September

• Goethe-Institut
  Talks with experts on the forced disappearance of people
• Flight to Guadalajara
• Continental plant
  Tour of the research centre and production facilities
• Government Palace of the federal state of Jalisco
  Talks with German and Mexican experts on innovation
• Tour of Guadalajara old town
• Hospicio Cabañas UNESCO World Heritage site
  Meeting with culture professionals
• Attend a concert
• Flight to Berlin

Thursday, 22 September

• Arrival in Berlin