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)
