Mexican President Calderon planning first trip to Europe

Jan 18, 2007, 23:10 GMT

Mexico City - Mexican President Felipe Calderon will meet European leaders for the first time on a week-long trip to the continent later this month, according to Mexican officials Thursday.

During his 25-30 January visit, Calderon plans stops in Germany, Britain, Spain and an appearance at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Berlin will be his first stop for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Horst Koehler on January 26. Calderon is hoping for improvements on a 2000 trade agreement with the European Union, of which Germany currently holds the rotating presidency.

Calderon was inaugurated in December 2006 after a long and tumultuous series of protests by supporters of leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who lost an election to Calderon earlier in the year by only 0.56 percentage points. Lopez Obrador proclaimed himself the country's 'legitimate president,' and has vowed to prevent Calderon from completing his six-year mandate.

Calderon will participate in the World Economic Forum on January 26 and 27, where he is expected to promote his plans for Mexico to take up a greater role on the world stage.

The Mexican president will then travel to London on January 28 for two days of talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett and Chancellor Gordon Brown, who is likely to succeed Blair in the country's top post some time this year.

Calderon will finish his visit January 30 in Spain where he will be received by King Juan Carlos and hold talks with Prime Minster Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.