U.S. President Barack Obama met with Mexican President-Elect Enrique Pena Nieto in the Oval Office of the White House Tuesday. "We meet early with the president of Mexico because it represents the close relationship between the U.S. and Mexico," Obama told reporters before the meeting. "What happens in Mexico has an impact on our society." Vice President Joe Biden, who will be attending Pena Nieto's inauguration early next month, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton were also present for the meeting. Obama congratulated Pena Nieto on his election win and praised outgoing President Felipe Calderon, whom he said "established an excellent working relationship" with the United States. Pena Nieto also congratulated Obama for his election to a second term, saying that having concurrent presidential elections in the U.S. and Mexico happens only once every 12 years. The president-elect praised Obama's plan for immigration reform, saying that he looked forward to continue working with U.S. officials to tackle the issue of illegal immigration from Mexico. "We fully support your proposal," Pena Nieto said. "We want to contribute. We want to be part of this."
