April 22, 2008 Bush shows off his dance moves Play video

(NECN: New Orleans) - President Bush showed off his dancing moves Monday at his fourth and final North American Leaders Summit appearance in New Orleans.

Opening a two-day summit with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Bush hailed the benefits of cross-border trade despite a rising protectionist sentiment in the US Congress. "I am a strong advocate for free trade. I believe it's in our nations' interest that we continue to have our free trade agreement. All of us want to make sure we're treated fairly. We can do that and this summit came at an opportune time," Bush said.

Earlier President George W. Bush and Mexican President Felipe Calderon reopened the Mexican consulate in New Orleans, six years after the Mexican government closed it to focus on areas with larger Hispanic populations. Bush said that the reopening of the embassy pointed to the close relationship between the US and Mexico.

This year's meeting has the intended twist of giving an economic and symbolic boost to the host city. Almost 32 months after Hurricane Katrina struck, New Orleans is recovering with uneven success from the most brutal natural disaster in U.S. history.