TIJUANA: San Diego to open Bi-National Affairs office in Mexico

The city of San Diego is scheduled to officially open its Bi-National Affairs Office in Tijuana Friday to promote business opportunities and collaboration in arts and culture.

San Diego Mayor Bob Filner and Tijuana Mayor Carlos Bustamante plan to attend a 2 p.m. ceremony in the VIA Corporativo high-rise in Zona Urbana Rio, according to Filner's office.

Filner expressed his desire for closer ties with Tijuana during his mayoral campaign and first couple of months in office. He said he views the two metropolitan areas as one mega-region and even suggested a joint telephone area code.

The office is the first step in coordinating border infrastructure improvements and marketing the region for international investment, according to Filner.

The mayor said Tijuana has had an office in San Diego for years, so it was only right for San Diego to reciprocate.