Visiting Chinese President HuJintao said in Mexico City Monday that he and Mexican President Vicente Fox have reached wide-ranging consensus on deepening their strategic partnership and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation.

Addressing the Mexican Senate, President Hu said both President Fox and he agreed that China-Mexico friendly cooperation enjoys solid political basis, extensive common interest and broad development prospects.

Hu also said enriching bilateral strategic partnership serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and their peoples, is conducive to promoting South-South cooperation and is contributive to safeguarding world peace and facilitating common development.

During Hu's visit, the two countries signed accords on avoiding double tariff and tax evasion, a protocol on plant quarantine on Mexican grapes into China and Chinese pears into Mexico.

They also signed a understanding memorandum on the creation of a Chinese cultural center in Mexico and on cooperation in mining.?????

During his speech, Hu raised a three-point proposal to push forward the bilateral ties.

-- earnestly develop bilateral strategic cooperation in a favorable way, materialize the agreements reached by the two countries' leaders and jointly push forward bilateral and multilateral cooperation. The standing committees concerned should draft plans of common action as soon as possible to promote the bilateral strategic cooperation in various fields.

-- actively construct a platform for mutually beneficial cooperation in economy and trade between the two countries and implement all signed agreements.

-- foster social foundation for long-term China-Mexico friendly cooperation, strengthen exchanges at various levels and in various fields, and further deepen mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.

China and Mexico set up diplomatic ties in 1972 and formed strategic partnership in December 2003.

President Hu arrived in Mexico from Canada on Sunday for a three-day visit.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2005)