Mexico City, Mexico - U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, will travel to Mexico City, Mexico and Bogota, Colombia from February 16 to the 21st. He will meet with President Peña Nieto in Mexico and President Santos in Colombia, and will discuss economic reforms taking place in each country as well as U.S. partnership opportunities.

On Tuesday in Mexico City, Chairman Menendez will deliver a speech hosted by the Americas Society / Council of the Americas on improving economic partnership opportunities in Latin America and the Caribbean.

"We must seize this moment and together embark upon a long-term plan for combined economic growth that allows all of our citizens to share in the prosperity of an expanding hemispheric economy," said Menendez. "We must look beyond free trade agreements and define new policies that will permit us to partner with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean to build a foundation for robust economic integration long into the 21st century."

In addition to visiting with President Peña Nieto in Mexico, Chairman Menendez will meet with Secretary of Foreign Affairs Meade, Secretary of Economy Guajardo, as well as Mexican Senate President Raul Cervantes, Mexican Senate Foreign Relations Chair Gabriela Cuevas and other lawmakers.

In Colombia, in addition to meeting with President Santos, Chairman Menendez will visit with members of the cabinet including Minister of Foreign Affairs Holguin and Labor Minister Pardo, as well as Senate President Cristo and other lawmakers. Chairman Menendez will also see senior labor leaders and members of the private sector.

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