Mexico City, Mar 7 (EFE).- Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto on Monday lamented and condemned remarks on immigration and Mexico by Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump, saying that they “hurt” bilateral relations.

“I condemn these kinds of statements. It seems to me they hurt a relationship that Mexico has sought with the United States of bridges, of dialogue, of rapprochement, of seeking solutions to shared problems,” he told the daily El Universal in an interview.

Trump has announced plans to deport the 11 million undocumented foreigners living in the United States and to build a wall between the two nations, and he has called Mexican migrants rapists, criminals and drug traffickers. He has also proposed imposing high tariffs on vehicles made in Mexico and preventing U.S. firms from investing south of the mutual border.

Despite the fact that Trump is ahead in Republican voter surveys as the GOP political convention approaches, Peña Nieto downplayed the probability that the real estate magnate would ever become the U.S. president.

He said that Mexico will be “absolutely respectful” of the U.S. presidential vote, adding that his administration will maintain a climate of “mutual respect and joint agreements” with the president-elect, whoever it may be, to “build a better relationship.”

Amid criticism by international organizations about human rights violations in Mexico, Peña Nieto said that although the country admits that “challenges” exist surrounding the issue, it must also be acknowledged that “the government has taken action and decisions to assume a commitment in the matter.” EFE