ZURICH, Switzerland (AP) -- Mexican President Vincente Fox said Thursday
                  that his country wants a strong relationship with the North American Free Trade
                  Zone, but ruled out adopting the dollar as its currency.

                  Fox said in a speech at the Latin American Chamber of Commerce in
                  Switzerland that he would seek to deepen the North American Free Trade
                  Agreement, currently linking the United States, Canada and Mexico.

                  But asked if Mexico would consider dollarizing its economy, he said: "Not in the
                  six years I will be in power."

                  Seeking to stabilize their economies, Ecuador and El Salvador recently adopted
                  the U.S. dollar as their legal currency, and Guatemala will follow suit in May.

                  Fox, who took office December 1, stopped over in the Swiss financial capital
                  Zurich on his way to the annual World Economic Forum summit in the Alpine
                  resort of Davos.

                  He emphasized the importance of the free trade agreement signed last year with
                  the European Union.

                  "We are the biggest third party with whom the European Union has signed a free
                  trade agreement, and that will strengthen our economy," he said.

                  He said Mexico also wanted an agreement with Mercosur -- a customs union
                  between Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Bolivia and Chile are also
                  associate members.

                  Fox said that although the cautious 2001 budget shows a 0.5 percent deficit, it is
                  possible that Mexico will turn in a surplus. Despite the U.S. slowdown, he still
                  hopes Mexico's gross domestic product will grow by 4.5 percent this year
                  because of more trade with the EU.

                  Last year, the International Monetary Fund warned the Mexican government to
                  be alert to the possibility of an overheating economy, but otherwise praised
                  Mexican authorities for their economic stewardship.

                  Copyright 2001 The Associated Press.