Traveling in southernmost Chiapas state, Derbez said both President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry have made it clear they are interested in maintaining constant dialogue with Mexico City. He also said both candidates have expressed interest in urging the U.S. Congress to approve an immigration agreement that would extend some sort of residency to a portion of the Mexicans who cross the U.S. border to find jobs.

Speaking about a possible U.S.-Mexico accord on temporary workers, Derbez said "the situation is the same for us." "All in all, the relationship is one of the labor market between the two nations and it doesn't matter who the president is, the issue has still been placed on the table by President Vicente Fox," he said.

Derbez added that both candidates have pledged to make an agreement "a priority their administrations will push for." In January, the Bush administration unveiled a plan to extend temporary legal status to undocumented immigrants in the United States as well as wouldbe migrants who have jobs waiting for them. Under the proposal, workers would receive three-year work permits.

Derbez said Thursday that this country "was not totally in agreement with" that plan, but that Mexico City and Washington "were working" on the issue.

In the past, Derbez has said Mexico wants an unlimited visa program for workers, not the three-year renewable plan offered by the Bush plan.

Mexico's government also wants guest workers to be automatically allowed to bring their families with them if they have a job offer in the United States.