Mexico's Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray delivers a speech during a meeting with diplomatic corps in Mexico City. Thomson Reuters MEXICO CITY (Reuters) — Mexico's new Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray said there is "no way" his country will pay for the wall that U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to build on the United States' southern border to keep out illegal immigrants.

Speaking on Mexican television, Videgaray reiterated the government's position that it would not pay for the wall, which has been a bone of contention between Trump and Mexico since the businessman launched his presidential campaign in June 2015.

Trump said on Friday that Mexico would repay the United States for his planned border wall, a day after news emerged that his transition team was exploring getting the Republican-led Congress to vote to approve the funding.

Videgaray formally took over the foreign minister position during the first week of January. He had previously been the finance ministry chief, but stepped down in the wake of Donald Trump's visit to Mexico City at the end of August.

In his first official remarks as foreign minister on Monday, he laid out a plan for steady management of the Mexico's relations with the US going forward.

"There are voices that are already promoting a strategy of conflict, confrontations, and even insult ... Others predict a shameful submission," Videgaray said to a meeting of diplomatic personnel in Mexico. "Mexico will not choose either of these false solutions," but would instead opt for "intelligence and dignity, opening the doors to dialogue."

(Reporting by Dave Graham)