Biden: U.S.-Mexico relationship has ‘awesome potential and promise’

{mosads}”President Obama is deeply invested in the maturation of this relationship at every level,” Biden said.

Biden said that the rise of the Mexican middle class had created “incredible opportunities” inside and outside of the country. He said by connecting the nations “roads, rails and infrastructure,” the nations could “drive innovation on both sides of the border.”

The travel by top-level administration officials is the first in an annual series of gatherings between Mexican and U.S. partners. The program was announced by Obama and Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in May.

According to the White House, the U.S. and Mexico share “a dynamic commercial relationship that generates more than $500 billion in trade in goods and services, and supports millions of jobs in both countries.”

“Every Cabinet member wanted to be a part of this because they see the potential,” Biden said, joking he was worried that not everyone would be able to secure a seat on the flight from Washington.

The vice president also touched briefly on immigration reform, saying the administration believed it was “a matter of justice, respect and according dignity to all people to bring 11 million men, women and children out of the shadows.”

He also expressed sympathy to the Mexican people for recent floods that have ravaged the country, noting that he would travel after the meetings to Colorado to survey similar damage there.