The Encirclement Gathers Pace: China Enters Into a “Strategic Partnership” With Mexico

As if Mexico didn’t already have enough problems with gangsters.

On his way to a San Francisco Summit with Barack Obama, new Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Costa Rica and Marxist-led Cuba and Brazil to build up his Latin American support.

Most significant, however, was his meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto. This visit signals a new phase in Mexico/China relations. One that will have a big impact on the United States.

From the Communist Party of China website:

MEXICO CITY – Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto Tuesday announced to upgrade 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.

During the talks, the two presidents agreed that strengthening the 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.

Xi said the decision to upgrade the bilateral relationship is a realistic requirement, and it also sets a clear target for the development of bilateral relations.

Pena Nieto, for his part, said the upgrade of the Mexico-China ties indicates that bilateral cooperation has entered a new stage.

The Mexican side is ready to work with China to constantly improve cooperation at higher levels and through more effective mechanisms so as to achieve common development, he said.

The two heads of state agreed to push forward the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership by working jointly in the following four aspects.

Firstly, the two sides will view their relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and improve political mutual trust. The two countries will accommodate each other’s concerns, and show mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other’s core interests.

China and Mexico will maintain exchanges between high-level leaders, political parties and legislatures, give full play to the existing consultation and dialogue mechanisms, and improve coordination on each other’s development strategies.

Secondly, the two sides will improve practical cooperation in accordance with their development strategies, and agree to increase mutual investment in key areas such as energy, mining, infrastructure and high technology.

In order to promote trade balance, China supports the increase of imports from Mexico, while Mexico welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest here and promises to create favorable conditions for Chinese investors.

Thirdly, as two major countries with rich cultural traditions, China and Mexico will improve cultural exchanges. Both countries will encourage more exchanges between art troupes, promote tourism and strengthen communication among students, academics, journalists and athletes.

China will build a Chinese cultural center in Mexico City, the first in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Mexico will establish a Mexican cultural center in Beijing as well.

Fourthly, China and Mexico will improve multilateral coordination based on their common interests and responsibilities on major international issues.

The two countries will maintain close communication and coordination on global economic governance, energy security, food safety and climate change.

They will help developing countries gain a bigger voice in the international community, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and the developing nations.

China and Mexico support the establishment of the China-Latin America forum and promote the overall cooperation between China and Latin America at a higher level.

After their talks, Xi and Pena Nieto signed a joint statement between the two countries, witnessed the signing of a host of agreements and jointly met the press.

Pena Nieto said at the ceremony that China has become a major global economic engine and an important balancing power in international relations.

As two emerging powers, Mexico and China are each other’s important strategic cooperative partners, and the Mexican side is ready to forge closer ties with the Chinese side to achieve common development, the Mexican president said.

China is ready to work with Mexico to constantly enrich the content of bilateral strategic partnership, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Xi said his visit to Mexico aims to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation and enhance friendship. “I believe with our joint efforts,

China-Mexico relations will enter a new stage,” he said.