President Xi Jinping meets with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Monday. LI XUEREN/XINHUA
China and Mexico should continue to enhance exchanges, carry forward their bilateral friendship and take advantage of the highly complementary nature of their economies to advance pragmatic cooperation, President Xi Jinping told Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Monday.
The talk between the two leaders, on the sidelines of the 19th G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, was their first meeting since Sheinbaum was sworn in as the first female president of the Latin American nation in October.
During the meeting, Xi congratulated Sheinbaum on her election success and described his visit to Mexico in 2013 as a "memorable experience".
He called for the comprehensive development of China-Mexico relations in the new era.
Highlighting the shared perspectives and aligned concepts of the two nations on various international issues, the president underscored both sides' mutual commitment to a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
He stressed China's readiness to work with Mexico to uphold multilateralism, promote international fairness and justice, and inject positive energy into global economic growth.
President Sheinbaum noted that, although Mexico and China are geographically distant, they are closely connected.
She acknowledged the significant presence of Chinese companies in Mexico, including their participation in critical infrastructure projects in Mexico City.
She extended her gratitude for China's sincere and substantial support during challenges such as hurricanes, support that she described as a testament to the enduring friendship between the two peoples.
Sheinbaum reaffirmed Mexico's commitment to multilateralism and expressed her willingness to work with China to unlock potential and expand cooperation across various fields.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China is Mexico's second-largest trading partner, while Mexico ranks as China's second-largest trading partner in Latin America.
According to the General Administration of Customs, trade between the two nations reached $100.2 billion in 2023.
