Chinese vice president urges new efforts to promote economic, trade ties with Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 10 (Chinese media) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping said here Tuesday that new efforts are needed to further promote China-Mexico economic and trade cooperation amid the current global financial crisis.

Xi, who is here for a three-day official visit to Mexico, made the call in a speech at a luncheon hosted by Chinese and Mexican entrepreneurs.

Xi hailed the rapid development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, saying it plays an important role in China-Mexico ties and has brought tangible benefits to the people of both nations.

China and Mexico should make new efforts to maintain the good momentum of such cooperation in order to tackle the challenges brought by the ongoing financial crisis, he said.

To this end, Xi proposed promoting bilateral economic and trade cooperation from a strategic perspective, improving the service of both governments, promoting cooperation in key fields, bringing into full play the dominating role of enterprises, and expanding cooperation in world economic affairs.

Mexican Secretary of Foreign Relations Patricia Espinosa Cantellano said in her opening speech at the luncheon party that both Mexico and China are facing new challenges under the current financial situation, thus "solidarity and closer cooperation" are very important for the two countries.

She also called for more bilateral exchanges in all fields, "not only political and economical, but also social and civilian."

The luncheon party was held on the sideline of the 19th Plenary Meeting of the Mexico-China Business Committee, which was started here Tuesday and brought together representatives from big companies in Mexico and some 20 Chinese companies.

The meeting aims to boost bilateral investment and commercial exchanges between China and Mexico, according to Fernando Ruiz, technical director of the COMCE.

Ruiz said mutual investment between China and Mexico has large room for improvement.

"There are great opportunities for Chinese investors in Mexico in different sectors, like automobile, construction and energy."

In November, at the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum held in Lima, Peru, Mexican President Felipe Calderon said China had offered great possibilities for his country as the global financial crisis unfolded.

Mexico registered an economic growth rate of only 1.8 percent in 2008, the second worst performance among Latin American countries after Haiti.

The United States was Mexico's largest exports destination, taking 89 percent of all its exports. But the ongoing crisis has forced the Mexican government to seek alternative markets.

In December, Mexico's Deputy Foreign Minister, Lourdes Aranda, said his country was concerned about its declining exports to the United States, and its ties with China "were very important."

According to data from the Chinese Commerce Ministry, commercial exchanges between China and Latin America grew 50.9 percent from January 2008 to January 2009.

Chinese vice president arrives in

Mexico for official visit

MEXICO

CITY, Feb. 9 (Chinese media) -- Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping arrived here on

Monday afternoon, kicking off his official visit to Mexico.

Chinese vice president to attend

business meeting in Mexico

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6 (Chinese media) -- Chinese Vice President Xi

Jinping, who will arrive here on Sunday for an official visit to Mexico, is

scheduled to attend the 19th Plenary Meeting of the Mexico-China Business

Committee, the Mexican Business Council of Exterior Commerce, Investment and

Technology (COMCE) said on Friday.

The 19th plenary meeting, to be held on Tuesday, will

discuss business possibilities in both countries, the COMCE said in a

communique. Full story

Official: Mexico eyes strengthening

commercial exchanges with China

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6 (Chinese media) -- Mexico will take the

upcoming 19th Plenary Meeting of the Mexico-China Business Committee as an

opportunity to strengthen commercial and investment exchanges with China, a

Mexican official told Chinese media on Friday.

The meeting aims to boost bilateral investment and

commercial exchanges between China and Mexico, Fernando Ruiz, technical director

of the Mexican Business Council for Foreign Trade, Investment and Technology

(COMCE), said. Full story

Mexico hopes to boost economic ties

with China amid crisis

MEXICO CITY, Feb. 6 (Chinese media) -- Mexico is expected to get

part of China's investments earmarked for foreign markets in 2009, Bruno

Ferrari, head of a government institution which is tasked toattract foreign

direct investment, said on Friday.

Bruno Ferrari, who leads ProMexico, also said the south

American country also expects to seek new economic opportunities with China as

the scheduled visit by Chinese Vice

Chinese vice president meets Fiji

leaders on cooperative partnership

NANDI, Fiji, Feb. 9 (Chinese media) -- Chinese Vice President Xi

Jinping met here Monday afternoon separately with Fiji President Josefa Iloilo

and Prime Minister of the island nation's interim government Josaia Voreqe

Bainimarama.

Both sides expressed wishes to strengthen the cooperative

partnership between the two countries. Full story

Chinese vice president leaves for

six-nation visits

BEIJING, Feb. 8 (Chinese media) -- Chinese Vice President Xi

Jinping left here Sunday morning for official visits to Mexico, Jamaica,

Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Malta.

The visits will last to Feb. 22, according to the

Foreign Ministry.

Xi was invited by Brazilian Vice President Jose

Alencar as well as governments of the other five countries.

Xi's entourage included senior officials from the

Foreign Ministry, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry

of Commerce, the Policy Research Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC)

Central Committee and the China Development Bank.