Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson co-hosted an event at Dallas City Hall with 50 Mexican mayors and Mexican state economic secretaries last week.
The event was held in Dallas City Hall’s Flag Room, a room featuring a collection of international flags from foreign delegations that have visited Dallas throughout the city’s history.
The Flag Room also features a wide window that opens to a stunning view of downtown Dallas.
The event was organized and co-hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Mexico and the Consulate of Mexico in Dallas.
The event’s stated purpose was to “strengthen the existing relationship between Dallas and Mexico.”
Mayor Johnson began the proceedings by referring back to his first international trip as mayor. His 2022 tour of Mexico was undertaken at the invitation of the North America Unit at the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs, per NBC 5.
During the trip, Mayor Johnson visited Mexico’s capital city Mexico City and Dallas’ sister city Monterrey.
“I will always remember the warm welcome that your country extended to me when I visited your great nation last year,” Mayor Johnson said during the Mexican delegation’s visit. “Your visit to Dallas today is a next step in building a lasting bond between our citizens.”
Mayor Johnson also read a proclamation declaring April 20 “Mayors of Mexico Day” in the city of Dallas.
The proclamation highlighted Dallas’ cultural, commercial, and economic ties with Mexico.
The Mayor called the moment “historic.”
Mayor Jorge Corichi of Tlaxcala spoke for the Mexican mayors after receiving Johnson’s proclamation.
Tlaxcala is a city in central Mexico with a metro population of 627,000.
He highlighted the strong ties between Mexico and Dallas and emphasized the close relationship that the U.S. and Mexico maintain.
“Today’s meeting is an affirmation of cooperation and sisterhood between Mexico and the United States,” Mayor Corichi said.
Mayor Johnson concluded the ceremony with a similar message and said he hoped for more meetings in the future.
“Our current partnership with Mexico is strong, and I know that it can and will grow stronger,” Mayor Johnson said. “I look forward to many more exchanges like this one in the years to come.”
Mayor Johnson’s office told The Dallas Express after the event that the mayor thinks “this long-standing relationship between Dallas and Mexico will continue to pay dividends for Dallas economically and culturally.”
The statement added that Major Johnson believes that the proclamation “showcased that the door to Dallas is always open to international trade, tourism, and cultural exchanges.”