Mexico President says did not discuss border wall with US President Trump

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Thursday that he did not discuss the US administration's proposed border wall, when he spoke with President Donald Trump on Wednesday to talk about the issue of migration.

"We have not discussed that issue, in any conversation ... It was a respectful and friendly conversation," said Lopez Obrador.

Lopez Obrador had earlier said in a tweet that he held a telephonic conversation with US President Donald Trump and discussed the issue of migration with him.

He said that the two leaders discussed the possibility of creating a joint program for development and job creation in Central America and Mexico.

Thousands of migrants are living in crowded shelters and encampments in Tijuana after travelling from Central America to escape poverty and violence. They may have to wait weeks or months to claim asylum at the US border.

Illegal immigration was a central theme of Trump's presidential bid, and he repeatedly invoked the issue ahead of the November 6 midterm elections and deployed some 5,800 US troops to the border.

Trump has reiterated his campaign promise to build a wall along the US-Mexico border, even after Mexico repeatedly rejected his demand that it pay for the multibillion-dollar project.

Lopez Obrador has pledged to discourage migration through economic development and wants the United States to contribute to a plan focused on Mexico's poorer south and Central America.

Shortly after Lopez Obrador took office on December 1, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met with Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard to discuss border issues.

(With inputs from agencies)