Fox hopes to re-energize discussions with the U.S. leader on a possible migration accord that would move towards regularizing the status of an estimated 10 million Mexicans residing in the United States illegally.

In an interview with the Costa Rican paper La Nación, Fox said that differences over the U.S. war in Iraq have not affected relations because "good friends and partners are used to speaking the truth," He said that his relations with Bush were "as strong as ever," and the bilateral relationship was proceeding "with maturity."

Bush unveiled a temporary worker plan earlier this year that would allow Mexicans who are offered jobs in the U.S. to obtain a renewable three-year work visa.

While the proposal was shelved during the U.S. electoral campaign, outgoing U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell visited Mexico earlier this month suggesting that conditions were good for a migration accord following Bush's reelection. He cautioned, however, that any agreement would depend on the new U.S. congress which will take office in January.

Just days before the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the U.S., Fox was pressuring politicians in Washington on a migration deal, but the subsequent 'War on Terror' pushed relations with Mexico to the backburner.

Fox will also meet with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Fox will discuss economic ties and new technology in the oil industry with Putin, and he plans to set a date for a visit to Moscow.

The president hopes to push Mexico's tourism agenda with China, where an estimated 100 million newly-wealthy Chinese are expected to begin to participate in international tourism in the coming years.

With Lagos, Fox hopes to discuss Mexico's possible integration into the South American trading bloc Mercosur.

Following the Chile trip, Fox will travel to Ecuador for a state visit.