China, Mexico pledge to deepen co-op in economy, trade

MEXICO CITY -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto pledged Tuesday to deepen economic and trade relations between the two countries.

In a joint statement released after talks between Xi and Pena Nieto, they agreed to map out strategies to create a favorable environment to promote the sound, stable and balanced development of bilateral trade and investment.

Both sides agreed to establish a high-level working group, comprised of distinguished entrepreneurs appointed by related ministries, in a bid to promote economic and trade relations and find new opportunities in trade, investment and cooperation.

The two sides also agreed to enhance the management of the bilateral high-level working group between China's Ministry of Commerce and Mexico's Ministry of Economy so that the group can play an active role in bilateral economic dialogue.

The two leaders stressed that the group should hold an official meeting every year.

Both sides agreed to open a department in charge of Mexico-China economic affairs under the Mexican Embassy in China, which will have representatives from the Mexican ministries of agriculture, livestock, rural development, fishery and food.

The statement said the two countries have finished related procedures for the entry of Mexican pork to the Chinese market, noting that Mexico hopes similar procedures can be completed so that many other products can enter the big market.

China and Mexico also reached consensus on exporting Mexico's tequila to China and on resolving issues related to the textile and clothes industries.

The two sides agreed to promote cooperation in customs, tourism and energy.

They also vowed to increase direct flights between the two countries and make joint efforts to increase the number of tourists and business people travelling between the two nations.

The two leaders said the ninth China-Latin America Entrepreneur Summit, which will take place in Mexico in 2015, is important to bolster trade and investment ties, and they agreed to provide support to make the summit a success.

During the talks earlier in the day, Xi and Pena Nieto agreed to lift their countries' relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi arrived in Mexico City Tuesday for a three-day state visit.

Mexico is the last leg of Xi's ongoing three-nation Latin America tour, which has already taken him to Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.

From Mexico, Xi will fly to California for a summit meeting with US President Barack Obama.