PRESIDENT Clinton, hobbling on crutches through official welcoming ceremonies, has assured Mexico that he is determined to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.
Mr Clinton and President Ernesto Zedillo announced a "Mexican-US Alliance Against Drugs" and made a joint statement on migration.
Thousands of police and army troops were on duty in a huge security operation near the President's hotel and the US embassy in case of protests.
While new measures to strengthen co-operation in the anti-drugs combat were announced, there was no break-through on the sensitive question of the tough new US immigration laws which could result in the deportation of an estimated two million illegal Mexican immigrants now in the US. Mr Clinton said there would be no "mass deportations" and that the rights of migrants would be protected but there was no indication that illegal migrants would be shielded from the new law.
The alliance to combat drugs will be drawn up in detail by the end of the year and will cover 16 areas. The two countries will co-operate more closely based on a joint threat assessment which was presented to the two presidents who have also agreed to clamp down on illegal traffic in firearms across their borders.
There were a number of anti-American demonstrations near the US embassy on Monday which were soon turned back by riot police. One group represented a debtor's movement which - draped the Angel of Independence monument in black in mourning at the country's debt burden.
Mr and Mrs Clinton were formally welcomed yesterday morning by Mr Zedillo at the Campo Marte polo grounds which are part of the military complex surrounding the Los Pinos Presidential residence. Both heads of state emphasised the importance of good relations between neighbouring countries with a 2000-mile border.
Mr Zedillo praised Mr Clinton as "a good friend of Mexico" and referred to his efforts to secure membership of the North American Free Trade Agreement for Mexico and his role in the $50 billion rescue package when the peso collapsed early in 1995.
Mr Clinton, who is the first US President to pay a state visit to Mexico since President Carter 18 years ago, said that "our histories and destinies are forever joined". While there are differences between them, these could be channelled into greater co-operation marked by mutual respect.
Mexican sensitivity towards US might was revealed at a traditional flag-raising ceremony shortly before Mr Clinton arrived which commemorates the Mexican victory over invading French forces on May 5th, 1862.
Speaking at the ceremony, Gen Manuel Orozco Pimental made what was seen as an indirect criticism of US attempts to influence Mexican policy.
He said that "nothing will defeat the country's sovereignty or Mexico" and that "foreign ambitions" would never take away this sovereignty. Mr Zedillo was present at the ceremony but did not speak.
Another sensitive aspect of the visit was when Mr Clinton laid a wreath at a sacred spot in Mexican history called the "Altar of the Nation" It is also called a "Monument to the Child Heroes" and commemorates the slaughter of young army cadets in the US-Mexican War of 1847 by a New York regiment storming Chapultepec Castle.