Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Wednesday that China is ready to work with Mexico to lift their bilateral strategic partnership to a new level.

 

During talks with Mexican President Felipe Calderon, Li said China and Mexico are both developing countries that share complementarity in many areas.

 

Mutually beneficial cooperation conforms with the fundamental interests of both countries and has great significance for promoting South-South cooperation, establishing a just and rational political and economic order in the world and developing a harmonious world, Li said.

 

Calderon said the two countries have maintained frequent exchanges of high-level visits in recent years, which in turn had pushed forward bilateral cooperation in such fields as trade, economy and culture.

 

Mexico places great importance on its relations with China, and the growth of Mexico-China friendship has brought about a great deal of opportunities and benefits for Mexico, he said.

 

The new government of Mexico will as always stick to the one-China policy and strive to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership, Calderon said.

 

In recent years, China and Mexico, who established diplomatic relations 35 years ago, have witnessed increasingly vigorous growth in bilateral links.

 

Mexico has become the second largest trade partner of China in Latin America. The two countries forged a strategic partnership in 2005. Under a joint action plan, the two countries carried out cultural exchanges on a regular basis.

 

Mexico is the first leg of Li's visit to Latin America. He will also visit Venezuela, Suriname and Peru.

 

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit the region since President Hu Jintao came here two years ago.

 

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2007)