President Obama welcomed Mexican President Felipe Calderon to the White House today.

The two leaders discussed immigration, the violent drug war, and economic struggles on both sides of the border.

And both stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries.

"The United States and Mexico are not simply neighbors bound by geography and history. We are by choice friends and partners," said Mexican President Felipe Calderon.

"This is the moment to overlook the fact of reproaching each other in things that will really hurt us. We ought start new chapter of cooperation and new era to complement each other," President Obama said.

Calderon will address a joint session of Congress and later attend a state dinner.