At a news briefing after the talks, Hu said their talks were "fruitful" and they reached important consensus on future development of relations. They also signed a series of documents on double taxation, culture, plant quarantine, agriculture, social development and mining.

Fox said the talks were "very important" and that the two countries have been involved in "very close" cooperation in various fields.

Hu said China welcomed more Mexican agricultural products to its market and enhanced cooperation in agriculture, fishery, mining, household appliances, textile and light industry.

The two sides will also strengthen cultural exchanges and promote tourism, said Hu, and they agreed on more cooperation in international affairs, giving priority to development and the establishment of a just and rational international political and economic new order.

The two presidents said a bilateral joint committee will convene its second meeting at the beginning of next year to work out a joint action plan as soon as possible.

Fox said they agreed to have more exchanges of high-level visits, and he invited people from all walks of life in both countries to participate in and support bilateral cooperation.

Before the talks, Fox presided over a welcoming ceremony. Hu arrived in Mexico on Sunday, the second leg of his North American tour after Canada.

He will also attend the UN summit scheduled for September 14-16 in New York and visit Vancouver, Canada on his way back to Beijing.

Mexico has become China's second largest trading partner in Latin America after Brazil, with bilateral trade exceeding US$7 billion in 2004, 44 percent higher than the previous year, and China's investment in Mexico rising to nearly US$200 million.

(Xinhua News Agency September 13, 2005)