The new Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands and the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center released their recommendations to improve the bilateral relationship between Mexico and the U.S. on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. The report “A Stronger Future: Policy Recommendations for U.S.-Mexico Relations,” highlights the economic ties between both countries and opportunities to become global players in energy production, manufacturing, and the global economy.

The recommendations come from a private, three-day retreat for 20 top U.S. and Mexican dignitaries held at the Sunnylands Estate in March that led to new proposals to improve bilateral relations after the elections of a new president in both countries in 2012.

In a conference at the Wilson Center, Mexico’s Ambassador Arturo Sarukhan talked about trade disputes that have been resolved by both countries involving tuna exports from Mexico, potato exports from the U.S. to Mexico, as well as the NAFTA program that allows Mexican trucks to travel inside the U.S. “For the first time in 10 years, there are three new ports of entry in the U.S. border with Mexico,” Sarukhan said.

Jane Harman, President of the Wilson Center, envisions a regional energy platform that can become a global exporter of energy to the rest of the world. The report also calls on the two countries to invest in more energy production to help boost the North American economy — including the renewable wind and solar energy sources that are abundant in the Coachella Valley.

Rafael Fernández de Castro,  Presidential Advisor for International Affairs and Competitiveness at the Wilson Center, also talked about the zero net migration from Mexico as an opportunity to reform the visa immigration system in the U.S. and manage future flow of low and high skilled immigrants from Mexico.