Mexico moves to boost China ties

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Mexico acknowledged it still has some catching up to do in economic relations with China, as the two countries took new steps forward in trade negotiations.

Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong hailed Mexico as a partner, not a competitor, during a visit to Mexico City on Monday to sign new accords on tourism, agricultural trade and investment.

But Mexican Foreign Secretary Luis Ernesto Derbez also acknowledged that "there's still a lot left to do here" as he described intensive efforts to increase cooperation with China.

While Mexico is China's second-largest trading partner in Latin America, it remains at a disadvantage: China exports more than twice what it receives from Mexico. The trade imbalance has prompted concerns among Mexican industries about inexpensive Chinese goods and the impact of lower wage jobs in Asia on Mexico's assembly-for-export factories.

Taipei Times