In Mexico, Chris Christie feted by local officials and students

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., capped off a three-day trade mission to Mexico with a visit to a schoolhouse in Puebla on Friday, where he was greeted by thousands of enthusiastic students.

"The reception is extraordinary," said Christie as he sat with the governor of Puebla, Rafael Moreno Valle, according to NJ.com.

The students put on a show, including a band, cheerleaders, and some theatrical performances, that Christie described as "pretty amazing."

The governor's trip was billed as an opportunity to promote economic ties between New Jersey and Mexico, but it was also an opportunity for Christie to sharpen his foreign policy credentials as he mulls a 2016 presidential bid.

Christie visited the Puebla region, in part, because much of New Jersey's Mexican population was either born there or can trace their lineage to the region - up to 40 percent, according to NJ.com.

"Our estimate is that in New Jersey, between first and second generation Puebla people, we are talking about 200,000," Moreno Valle said.

Christie said he and the Mexican governor discussed how to help Pueblans living in the United States succeed, but he declined to go into further detail.

"I look forward to working with [Moreno Valle] on all different kinds of areas," he said, "and to the effect that it helps folks who have migrated from Puebla to the state of New Jersey, that would be an extra added benefit."

Christie invited Moreno Valle to visit New Jersey so he could repay the kindness and hospitality he was shown during his trip to Mexico.