Mexican President Vicente Fox met with Chinese State Councilor Chen Zhili on Tuesday on further promotion of cultural and educational cooperation between the two countries.

 

The meeting came on the sidelines of the sixth meeting of the E-9 ministers of education, held in Monterrey, northern Mexico. Chen is here attending the meeting of the E-9, an education organization of the world's most populous nations.

 

During the meeting, Fox said Mexico and China, both of which enjoy a long history and brilliant culture, have seen closer communications and expansion of cooperation in various fields over recent years.

 

More and more Chinese entrepreneurs invest in Mexico and the opening of the Confucius institutes is of great significance, Fox said, adding Mexico is willing to help promote teaching of the Spanish language and train more Spanish-spoken people.

 

Fox said strengthening cultural and educational cooperation will help strengthen the bilateral relations, and that Mexico hopes to make joint efforts with China in this regard.

 

Chen said that the two countries have scored remarkable achievements since they forged diplomatic ties 34 years ago.

 

She said that China is willing to cement mutually-beneficial cooperation in various fields so as to achieve common development.

 

Chen expressed China's willingness to work with Mexico to enhance educational and scientific cooperation by strengthening personnel exchange in the related fields.

 

The two-day E-9 meeting began on Monday with the aim to promote educational cooperation among nine nations: Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria and Pakistan.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 16, 2006)