Mexico's leader talks about challenges for next president

MEXICO CITY (AP) -- The economy is booming. Democracy is finally a reality. But decades of corruption and poverty that affect 40 million Mexicans remain a challenge for the next president, Mexico's outgoing leader told the nation in his final major address.

"Even when we show the strongest resolve, the best strategy, and the most vigorous efforts ... the results that can be achieved in a single six-year term are inevitably limited," President Ernesto Zedillo said in his sixth and final State of the Nation address.

"Besides, it is safer to go forward perhaps with small but firm steps than with sudden and risky ones."

But with the exception of the brief moments in which he acknowledged what he couldn't do, Zedillo's annual speech to a joint session of Congress was overwhelmingly upbeat -- filled with examples of how he helped heal an ailing economy.