Mexico and China Pledge Deeper Ties and Joint Cooperation During Beijing Talks

Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco, met with his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, on Monday as part of his official visit to Beijing to review opportunities to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest and strengthen exchanges between both nations.

At the meeting, Secretary Velasco reiterated Mexico’s interest in and commitment to a constructive relationship with China with the objective of identifying new opportunities for collaboration and joining efforts to solve shared challenges. Furthermore, he proposed the continuation of the Bilateral Political Consultation Mechanism between both foreign ministries with the “goal of establishing a joint roadmap for the coming years,” as well as advancing the bilateral agenda through concrete programs in priority areas such as health, education, science, innovation, environment, and rural development.

In that sense, Minister Wang reaffirmed that China is ready to work with Mexico and make good use of bilateral communication mechanisms at all levels. He noted that China and Mexico share similar strategic visions and common interests as major developing economies, and that they are working to fast-track their national development while pushing for a more equitable international order. Furthermore, he emphasized that ties between the two countries are not directed against any third party.

Secretary Velasco emphasized that the Latin American nation is a friend of the world, that it is open to seeking cooperation, dialogue, and understanding with all nations, that it engages from a position of trust, and that both Mexico and China share principles such as respect for sovereignty, equality among states, and non-intervention.

“We have defended these values historically, and they find echo in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence promoted by China,” stated Velasco.

Additionally, he highlighted Mexico’s history of independent diplomacy, mentioning that the country backed General Assembly Resolution 2758 in 1971 and has continuously supported the one-China policy ever since.

Foreign Minister Wang expressed that China appreciates Mexico’s longstanding stand on the one-China principle, and emphasized Beijing's commitment to safeguarding Mexico's independence, security, and sovereignty while rejecting outside interference.

In regards to multilateral affairs, Secretary Velasco highlighted the deepening engagement between the two nations, noting that they maintain high-level, constructive communication within both the G20 and APEC. He also commended China’s role as host of the APEC Leaders’ Summit in Shenzhen, which will take place this coming November.

The meeting also addressed the strengthening of bilateral cooperation in education and health, considered longstanding pillars in Mexico-China relations. Both officials pointed to academic exchanges and scholarship programs as tangible evidence of the bilateral relationship’s mutual benefits.

As for cultural diplomacy, Secretary Velasco noted that arts programs help bridge the two nations, and he highlighted that the “One Top of the World Tree” exhibition at the Shanghai Museum, which brings together roughly 3,000 archaeological and artistic pieces from Mexico, has drawn more than 200,000 visitors since its opening on July 8.

Image: SRE