Mexican President Vicente Fox said in Mexico City Thursday that the Mexican people are pleased to welcome Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao for an official visit to their country and he believed Wen's visit will boost relations between Mexico and China.  

During Premier Wen's visit, which is to start on Friday, leaders of the two countries will discuss new ways to enhance economic, trade, cultural and educational ties between the two sides, and they will exchange views on some major international issues of common concern, Fox said in an interview with Chinese reporters based in Mexico.

Fox pledged Mexico's efforts to work with China in meeting the goal of the World Trade Organization (WTO) to conclude the Doha Round trade talks before 2005.

Mexico-China relations have a long history and since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972, political, economic, trade, cultural and educational cooperation between the two sides have been increasingly strengthened, Fox said.

Mexico and China share common ground on some international issues, such as the Iraq issue and the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. The two countries enjoy good cooperation in the United Nations, with a shared view on resolving disputes between countries through peaceful means, Fox said.

As WTO members, both countries call for opening markets, phasing out agricultural subsidies and establishing a just and reasonable international trade order, the Mexican president said.

Economic and trade ties between Mexico and China are growing steadily and mutual investment is also on the rise, Fox said, noting that Mexico has a trade deficit with China, which is both a challenge and an opportunity for Mexico.

China has great market potential and the Mexican government encourages Mexican entrepreneurs to learn more about China and do business or make investment in China, Fox added. He said a joint high-level anti-smuggling committee has been set up to guarantee the healthy growth of the two countries' trade ties.

The Mexican president also said he had been impressed by the rapid, healthy development of China's economy during his visits to China.

(Xinhua News Agency December 12, 2003)