Mexico and China: 45 years of diplomatic relations
- By Julián Ventura
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E-mail China Today, April 26, 2017
The first Mexican Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Eugenio Anguiano, was officially received by Chinese Vice President Dong Biwu in October 1972. Since then, both countries have experienced profound transformations in their domestic situations and have assumed greater international roles. They have also established a closer bilateral dialogue and deepened their cooperation.
In 2007, I had the privilege of heading the 35th anniversary celebrations of diplomatic relations along with Yang Jiechi, at that time Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Li Xiaolin, Chairperson of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. In the decade that followed I have witnessed very significant joint achievements: the institutionalization of the bilateral agenda with a strategic and long-term vision, increased trade and investment, and stronger cultural, educational and cooperation exchanges.
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The first Mexican Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, Eugenio Anguiano, presents his credentials to Chinese Vice President Dong Biwu in 1972. |
This recent progress responds to the decision made by President Enrique Peña Nieto and President Xi Jinping to enhance bilateral ties through a pragmatic and results-oriented approach. They have met six times in the last four years, and this has ensured that both governments maintain a clear focus on the established priorities.
Our economic agenda has experienced an unprecedented level of growth. Total trade now amounts to approximately US $75 billion per year. China has become Mexico's second largest trading partner and the third largest destination for its exports, as more Mexican goods have made inroads into the local market, from food to manufactured goods such as vehicles and auto parts. Mexico is now China's top trading partner in Latin America. We have also seen our economies become more complementary, and thus our links contribute to our international competitiveness. These thus have laid a solid basis for the continued development of mutually-beneficial bilateral exchanges.
A growing number of Mexican and Chinese companies are also seizing the investment opportunities that the bilateral cooperation has brought. A High Level Group was established to enhance this positive trend and help bilateral investment flows reach their full potential. A Binational Investment Fund worth US $1.2 billion, with capital from Mexico and China, announced in 2016 its first investments in Mexico's energy and telecommunications sectors, where structural reforms were recently adopted. It is managed by the World Bank's International Finance Corporation and has high standards of transparency. Better financial platforms and strategic alliances between Mexican and Chinese companies will further deepen our investment agenda in the coming years.
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