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Mexico was the first leg of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping's tour to five Latin American countries and Malta in February. Shortly after Xi's visit to Mexico, Beijing Review reporter Yan Wei spoke to Jorge Guajardo, Mexico's Ambassador to China, about the burgeoning cooperation between the two major developing economies.
Beijing Review: What were the most important achievements of Vice President Xi Jinping's visit to Mexico?
Jorge Guajardo: Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping visited Mexico from February 9 to 11. He met with Mexican President Felipe Calderón and the speakers of both houses of the Mexican parliament. He also attended a luncheon with Chinese and Mexican entrepreneurs. During their talks, Calderón and Xi discussed the financial crisis as well as the trade imbalance between Mexico and China. They both expressed their wish to balance the two countries' trade relations.
How would you evaluate current China-Mexico relations? What are the major fields of our bilateral cooperation?
China is Mexico's second most important strategic partner behind the United States. Mexico has maintained close relations with China. President Calderón visited China in July last year before the Beijing Olympics. He and President Hu announced plans to establish a strategic dialogue mechanism between Mexico and China. We have been devoted to fostering friendly relations with China. I don't think these relations are based only on trade. The mutual respect between our two countries goes beyond our trade relations.
Mexico has a trade deficit with China, and the Chinese Government has repeatedly said that China does not intentionally pursue trade surplus with other countries. How should China and Mexico resolve the trade issue properly?
At their meetings in Mexico City, Xi and top Mexican officials agreed to do their best to promote the two countries' trade cooperation. Xi also took with him a large delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs. As they get to know each other better, Chinese and Mexican entrepreneurs can work together to find a way to balance the two countries' trade relations.
Mexico gives priority to tourism in addressing its trade deficit with China. After Xi wrapped up his Mexican trip, the delegation of entrepreneurs went on to visit Cancún, a major tourist city in Mexico. In its trade relations with China, Mexico sees tourism as a promising sector that will deliver benefits to both countries.
A number of large Chinese companies have operations in Mexico. What role have they played in Mexico? What do you think are the potential areas that Chinese investors should look at?
Copper tube producer Gold Dragon Group, which was represented in the delegation, will make a significant investment in Mexico. Chinese automaker Chana will cooperate with a Mexican company to launch a car assembly plant in Mexico. Computer giant Lenovo recently opened a new factory near Monterrey. Chinese telecom company Huawei Technologies also has an office in Mexico.
Mexico is highly attractive to foreign investors. It offers conveniences to Chinese companies investing in the country. Chinese companies are flocking to Mexico to build plants there. Mexico benefits from this trend, because they create a lot of job opportunities for the Mexicans.
Both China and Mexico are emerging developing countries and members of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies. How can our two countries jointly help revive the economy in the face of the global financial crisis?
Both Mexico and China are trying to promote their domestic economic development while contributing to free trade in the world. At the inauguration ceremony of Lenovo's new factory, President Calderón said necessary measures are being taken to attract productive capital from all over the world to prepare Mexico for an era of sustained, equitable growth. He said the strong flow of investment is a clear sign not only of the confidence that investors from all over the world have in Mexico but also of Mexico's competitive advantages in the global economy.
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