Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), arrived in Mexico City Wednesday afternoon for a goodwill visit to Mexico.

 

Mexico is the first leg of his four-nation tour to Latin America and the Caribbean region.

 

Li released a written speech upon arriving at the airport, saying his visit will feature extensive exchanges and is aimed at deepening friendship, expanding common grounds and promoting cooperation.

 

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, said he is expecting to hold discussions with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and heads of Mexican parliament and political parties.

 

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, Mexico and China have witnessed sound development in bilateral ties, with cooperation in political, economic and other fields continuously improving.

 

The two countries have exchanged frequent high-level visit and maintained a good consultative ties within international and regional organizations.

 

China and Mexico are important trade partners to each other. Mexico is currently China's second biggest trade partner in Latin America after Brazil, and China has become one of the leading trade partners of Mexico in Asia.

 

Official figures show that bilateral trade volume increased from around US$13 million in 1972 when ties were formed to more than US$11.4 billion in 2006.

 

In 2003, the two countries agreed to set up a strategic partnership, in a bid to further push forward relations and cooperation in a wide range of fields.

 

After Mexico, Li will continue his trip to Venezuela, Suriname and Peru.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2007)