THATCHER — Two hundred years ago, the United States became the first nation recognize Mexico’s sovereignty and the first to open diplomatic relations.
The bicentennial of that event was celebrated at Eastern Arizona College on Wednesday, with college President Todd Haynie welcoming Mexican Ambassador Ricardo Pineda Albarran and Speaker of the Arizona House Rusty Bowers to talk about the relationship between the nations and Mexico’s importance to Arizona.
“The formal relationship between our two great countries goes back two centuries this week, but the friendships between the great people of these two countries goes back even further,” Haynie said.
Albarran talked about the economic impact each country has on the other. The U.S Department of Commerce reports that Mexico exported $384.7 billion worth of goods into the United States in 2021, making the U.S. Mexico’s top trading partner.
Meanwhile, Arizona exported $2.3 billion worth of goods to Mexico in the third quarter this year, and total trade through the Ports of Entry topped $7.6 billion in the third quarter.
“We are projected to be best partners, continue being one of the economic engines of the world. And that is why we want to continue celebrating our ties and our friendship,” Albarran said.
There were 5.6 million persons and 2.5 million vehicles crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in Arizona during the third quarter of this year, and Bowers said improvements are needed to help with jobs.
“It’s my hope that we will have a legality of entry for the people struggling to get here. Make that easier and better and legal,” Bowers said.
Following their remarks, Haynie presented both Albarran and Bowers with the Eastern Arizona College Presidential Medal of Friendship.
Haynie also pointed out that EAC has the unique distinction of having two alumni serve as senators — Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, of Arizona, and former Mexican Sen. Jeffrey Max Jones, of Chihuahua.
Also during the ceremony, Dan Valle, International Director for the Southeast Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, presented Haynie with a certificate of achievement for Eastern Arizona College being named a Hispanic Serving Institution by the U.S Department of Education, for having 25 percent or more total undergraduate Hispanic full-time students.
“Thank you for your leadership within our Hispanic community,” Valle said.
