Leading politician talks business.

"The PRI gave Mexico stability."

Certainly a statement one might expect from a leader of the legendary Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) during a speech to party sympathizers.

The leader, however, was neither from the PRI, nor was he speaking at a political rally. Instead, the positive summation came from Leonel Godoy, president of the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD)--a group born in 1989 as perhaps the most ideologically truculent of the PRI's rivals. And the audience: A small group of AMCHAM/MEXICO leaders meeting earlier this year.

The purpose of the meeting was to learn more about the PRD's stance on important issues and share the Chamber's vision of growth and competitiveness. The encounter was part of the Chamber's lobbying program, which aims to achieve closer contact with key political players in Mexico.

In addition to hearing Godoy's accolades of political foes, attendees were surprised to discover that the PRD might be more flexible on certain sensitive issues than commonly thought. He invited AMCHAM to meet with different PRD working groups to exchange points of view in areas such as energy and fiscal reform.

Godoy also reminded the group that the PRD's ideological and organizational platform is modeled on the Social Democratic parties of Europe and South America. Spain's former socialist prime minister, Felipe Gonzalez, is one of the strongest proponents of a "new" socialism that recognizes the fundamental role of companies in the creation of jobs, wealth and good for society.

Asked in what areas the Chamber could provide input to the PRD, Godoy cited three: competitiveness, immigration and agriculture. AMCHAM leaders gave him a copy of the Chamber's "Competitiveness Report" as well as an offer to set up meetings with several Chamber committees.