The visiting Mexican Foreign Minister, Luis Ernesto Derbez, said
in Beijing on Monday that China is Mexico's "strategic ally"
instead of a "rival."
Derbez made the remarks at a press conference at the Mexican
embassy in Beijing.
Derbez expressed optimism for the future development of
Mexico-China cooperation.
"We have a lot in common and share common interests in various
aspects," he noted.
According to him, both countries have highlighted tourism,
logistics, transportation, shoemaking and electronics as key areas
for bilateral cooperation.
Derbez arrived in Beijing on Sunday for a three-day official
visit, ahead of the second biannual meeting of the China-Mexico
Permanent Committee, a political-commercial consultation mechanism
established in August 2004.
This year's meeting is expected to relieve the ascending worries
among Mexican shoemakers and garment businesses towards their Asian
competitors, through face-to-face dialogue.
China and Mexico first agreed to set up the consultation
mechanism during Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Mexico in late 2003.
It consists of multiple sub-commissions dealing with affairs on
politics, commerce, culture, education, and science and
technology.
Derbez also briefed the press on the proposed launch of two
direct air routes in 2007 that will connect Tijuana, a city on the
Mexico-US border, to Beijing and Shanghai.
(Xinhua News Agency February 21, 2006)
