China and Mexico agreed on Monday morning to strengthen
dialogue, enhance mutual trust and enrich the content of their
strategic partnership, as President Hu Jintao
met his Mexican counterpart Vicente Fox.
At a news briefing after the talks, Hu said their talks were
"fruitful" and they reached important consensus on future
development of relations. They also signed a series of documents on
double taxation, culture, plant quarantine, agriculture, social
development and mining.
Fox said the talks were "very important" and that the two
countries have been involved in "very close" cooperation in various
fields.
Hu said China welcomed more Mexican agricultural products to its
market and enhanced cooperation in agriculture, fishery, mining,
household appliances, textile and light industry.
The two sides will also strengthen cultural exchanges and
promote tourism, said Hu, and they agreed on more cooperation in
international affairs, giving priority to development and the
establishment of a just and rational international political and
economic new order.
The two presidents said a bilateral joint committee will convene
its second meeting at the beginning of next year to work out a
joint action plan as soon as possible.
Fox said they agreed to have more exchanges of high-level
visits, and he invited people from all walks of life in both
countries to participate in and support bilateral cooperation.
Before the talks, Fox presided over a welcoming ceremony. Hu
arrived in Mexico on Sunday, the second leg of his
North American tour after Canada.
He will also attend the UN summit scheduled for September 14-16
in New York and visit Vancouver, Canada on his way back to
Beijing.
Mexico has become China's second largest trading partner in
Latin America after Brazil, with bilateral trade exceeding US$7
billion in 2004, 44 percent higher than the previous year, and
China's investment in Mexico rising to nearly US$200 million.
(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2005)
