‘Viva Mexico!’ Clinton says in bicentennial message

"Viva Mexico!" Secretary Clinton says in her bicentennial message to the United States’ southern neighbor, which today celebrates the 200th anniversary of its independence from Spain on Sept. 16, 1810. Times have been tough lately in Mexico, with drug violence and flooding (as shown in a recent FP slide show), but that hasn’t kept Mexicans from celebrating. Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of people flooded the streets of Mexico City in festivities. (In the file photo above from last year — Sept. 15, 2009 — Mexican President Felipe Calderón waves the flag to start off that year’s Independence Day celebrations. I don’t yet have access to good photos from this year’s festivities.)

The video of Clinton’s message, with Spanish subtitles, is below, followed by a transcript. (Also, not to be forgotten, Papua New Guinea also celebrates its Independence Day today — 35 years! Clinton’s message for the Pacific country is posted at the very bottom.)

Happy Bicentennial, Mexico. This September 16th, we honor the heroes of Mexico who first declared their independence from the Spanish Crown 200 years ago, and to all those who rose up to defend Mexico’s ideals of democracy, liberty, and justice during the revolution 100 years later. Thanks to their sacrifice, Mexico today is a strong, modern country with a thriving economy, and one of the world’s most admired cultures.Our nations are connected by the busiest border in the world, by a rich economic partnership, by a vibrant exchange of cultures, and by the millions of Mexican Americans who have contributed so much to our own nation. Our common history and our common future gives us the courage and the foundation to build an even stronger base for our work together.

Mexico and the United States share so much. With confidence in our democratic institutions, our shared values, and our unwavering friendship, we will continue working together to confront the challenges in the 21st century, and to build prosperity and peace for all of our people.

As we celebrate 200 years of your independence, we look forward to a long future of friendship and close cooperation. Viva Mexico!

Clinton’s message for Papua New Guinea:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the citizens of Papua New Guinea on your 35th Independence Day this September 16. The United States and Papua New Guinea work closely together on many issues of mutual interest, from fostering economic growth and advancing opportunities for women and girls, to combating climate change and protecting the environment. We are committed to deepening our partnership with Papua New Guinea both bilaterally and through our involvement in regional institutions including the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Pacific Islands Forum Post-Forum Dialogue. Today, we join in celebrating your history and reaffirm the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our nations. I wish all citizens of Papua New Guinea a safe and happy celebration, and continued peace and prosperity in the coming year.