US President Barack Obama (left) shakes hands with his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto after a joint news conference at the National Palace in Mexico City May 2, 2013. Obama arrived in Mexico on Thursday for a visit he hopes will draw attention to Mexico's emerging economic might, even as worries about containing drug-trafficking and related violence remain an inescapable subtext.[Photo/Agencies]

MEXICO CITY - US President Barack Obama arrived in Mexico City Thursday aboard the official presidential airplane Air Force One, for an overnight work visit.

Obama was received at the presidential hangar at Mexico City's international airport by Mexico's Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Meade, US Ambassador to Mexico Anthony Wayne, Mexico's Ambassador to the US Eduardo Medina Mora and other officials.

The US president immediately boarded his presidential state car, known as "The Beast," which was followed by 32 security vehicles and a Mexican Navy helicopter, and headed to the National Palace, headquarters of the Mexican government.

At the National Palace, Obama and Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto will hold a meeting to discuss a variety of issues, including economic growth, competitiveness, public security, immigration, border management, trade, investment, education and scientific exchange.

Around 4 pm local time (2100 GMT), The two presidents will hold a joint press conference and in the evening Pena Nieto will host a state dinner in Obama's honor.

At the moment of Obama's arrival, Pena Nieto posted a tweet that says "this visit will be of great benefit to our countries."

This is Obama's fourth visit to Mexico, but the first during Pena Nieto's presidency, which began in November 2012.

On Friday, May 3, Obama's agenda includes a meeting with several figures from Mexico's social sectors and an encounter with Mexican students at the National Anthropology Museum.