Fort Worth - Vicente Fox, former president of Mexico, dismissed noisy campaign rhetoric in American politics during an appearance on Inside Texas Politics.

"We are building the opportunities in Mexico. We work hard to have jobs for them. We want them back. We need them back," said Fox during a Dec 20 appearance on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics.

For the first time in years, more Mexicans are now returning to their country rather than entering the United States, according to a Pew Research Center analysis last month.

During the wide-ranging interview, the former president sidestepped questions about Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio's political success. Cruz, like Donald Trump, insists on expanding the wall along America's southern border to keep undocumented immigrants out.

"Right now we shouldn't even be listening to them," Fox told Inside Texas Politics. They're trying to [develop] their political career. It's too early."

The former president said Mexico and the United States should be building bridges rather than walls.

"We are partners – the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. We trade close to a trillion U.S. dollars every year," he explained. "Building bridges is most important. At the very end, we have to meet the challenge of the East. The East is growing fast. The East is getting powerful."

Fox, 73, is expanding his presidential library and think tank to Texas Christian University. He and TCU have had a successful relationship since 2011.

Fox's presidential library in Guanajuato is the only one of its kind in Mexico. He said 200,000 people have visited - including 75,000 children.

"We give them a very strong message about leadership, how they can be successful in their lives, how they can have a life plan," Fox said. "This is what they're doing so they stay in Mexico... so they don't become migrants. The main message is: You were not born to be poor. You were born to do great things in your life."

Fox said there are no issues that keep him up at night, and as one of Mexico's senior statesmen he said he doesn't think much about his legacy.

"Within Mexico [it's] to have the friendship of all the Mexicans, especially the poor. And I do have a very strong compact with them," he said. "In the case of North America — to make sure this region of the world keeps its compassionate side, keeps working to build a better world and remain as cohesive partners. That's my message here. We are partners. Mexico is not the backyard of the United States. It's not violence. That's been exaggerated by the press. It's a place that most Americans should visit and learn about.

Fox served as president of Mexico from 2000 to 2006. He was elected on his 58th birthday, defeating the majority party for the first time in 71 years.

The United States has always been a "migrant nation," Fox added. "This great nation has been built by immigrants. And it won't be any different in the future."