Roundup: China-Mexico ties hold great potential: envoy

Profound changes have taken place in China in the past decades and relations between the Asian country and Mexico have great potential, China's ambassador to Mexico Qiu Xiaoqi has said.

Qiu made the remarks on Wednesday when delivering a speech at a reception marking the 66th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which was attended by diplomats, academics, business leaders and politicians.

Speaking highly of the landmark achievements made by China and its undergoing transformations, Qiu noted that China, the world's second largest economy, is progressing toward ambitious objectives since it adopted reform and opening-up policies more than 30 years ago.

China has also pushed for progress outside its borders, through its efforts to establish new international relations based on mutual benefits,

such as the Belt and Road initiative to boost trade and growth along and beyond the ancient Silk Road, promotion of greater connectivity with neighboring countries, and a new model of productive cooperation with Latin America, Qiu pointed out.

The bilateral relationship between China and Mexico, lifted to a comprehensive strategic partnership level during Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Mexico in June 2013, is solid as evidenced by frequent meetings between the leaders and senior officials of the two countries, said Qiu.

Having visited all 31 states and the Federal District just a little more than two years since his diplomatic mission in Mexico, the envoy has seen "the great energy of this beautiful country, and felt the great potential for cooperation between China and Mexico, and the sincere wish of both peoples to strengthen the ties of friendship."

Bilateral trade in 2014 reached about 43.45 billion U.S. dollars, and cooperation in financial areas remains strong, Qiu said, adding that Mexico's products are carving a niche for themselves in China, including tequila, pork, cranberries and other quality foodstuffs, such as dairy, tobacco leaves, corn and beef.

"China considers Mexico to be a key part of its larger foreign policy, above all in its ties with Latin America," said Qiu. "Whatever the changes in the international scenario, China and Mexico will make an effort to reinforce their comprehensive strategic partnership and promote the creation of a new structure for mutually beneficial cooperation."

"China's presence increased largely globally and in Mexico," said Enrique Dussel Peters, coordinator of the Center for China-Mexico Studies at Mexico's National Autonomous University (UNAM).

Raul Ortega, coordinator general of international affairs at Mexico's Agriculture Ministry, said Mexico and China "are two great friends in terms of politics, economics, trade and (areas) which are growing significantly."

The president of International Consultants, Julio A. Millan, said he was "impressed" by China's pace of development.

"I have seen the changes since 1980 to date, and the reality is that it represents one of the greatest changes of the 20th century worldwide, and it had a fundamental impact on the development of the 21st century." he said. Endi