MEXICO CITY - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto announced here on Tuesday to lift the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Chinese president arrived in Mexico City earlier in the day for a three-day state visit aimed at lifting the China-Mexico strategic partnership to a higher level, and held talks with Pena Nieto on bilateral cooperation.

China's President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto during a news conference at Los Pinos Presidential Palace in Mexico City June 4, 2013. Xi is on a three-day official visit to Mexico. [Photo/Agencies]

During the talks, the two presidents agreed that strengthening China-Mexico long-term friendly cooperation serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, and helps promote unity and cooperation among developing countries.

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 the US state of California to hold a summit meeting with US President Barack Obama.