By Hector Zavala, master student of the Yenching Academy of Peking University, alumni of  National Autonomous University of Mexico

Last Tuesday, February 14, Mexico and China celebrated its 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations.

Both governments should continue to foster cultural, educational, political and economic ties.

Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and Chinese President Xi Jinping have established a comprehensive strategic partnership. They met at six presidential meetings in less than four years.

In 2014 the National Foreign Trade Bank of Mexico opened an office in Beijing to “increase the commercial presence of Mexico in Asia, as well as providing support to Mexican Businessmen to achieve a higher exchange of products.

In 2015, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the largest bank in the world, opened its first branch in Mexico, becoming the first Chinese bank in the country to do so.

The chairman of the Bank's Supervisory Board, Qian Wenhui, said, “the establishment of ICBC Mexico was a milestone in the group's globalization strategy and an outstanding achievement … (for) Sino-Mexican economic and financial cooperation relations.”

The two countries have taken concrete actions:

The Mexican Studies Center UNAM (National Autonomous University of Mexico) - BFSU (Beijing Foreign Studies University), was established in 2012 as one of the main projects promoted by China and Mexico’ governments.

The Mexican Studies Center UNAM-BFSU fosters mutual understanding between Mexico and China by facilitating the mobility of scholars and students of both countries to take part on academic programs in China and Mexico.

Also in 2017, the Mexican Studies Center UNAM-BFSU will celebrate its five years anniversary serving as a bridge for both nationalities to explore the two fascinating countries’ histories that are rich in local traditions.

The center has organized 264 academic and cultural events that included scholars, students from China and Mexico, as well as the general public.

In 2014 Xi said, “We should increase China’s soft power, give a good Chinese narrative, and better communicate China’s messages to the world”.

Accordingly, the international project of UNAM aims to augment Mexico’s soft power through academia and culture dissemination, to improve the image of Mexico abroad, such as in the People’s Republic of China.

The Mexican Chamber of Commerce in China (MEXCHAM) has also advocated joint projects between Mexican and Chinese institutions, but with economic and commercial themes. According to the website, its mission aims to “Strengthen trade between Mexico and China by offering high level services of knowledge, experience and multi-sectoral representation to our members, protecting their core values as well as socio-economic development and quality of life.”

On Oct. 25, MEXCHAM along with Yenching Academy of Peking University, have jointly organized a Business Seminar Mexico-China where renowned scholars, businessmen and entrepreneurs from China, Mexico, and other countries, shared their insights to Peking University students regarding Marketing and Start-Ups in China.

In 2017, the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in China celebrates its first decade anniversary to “fostering trade and investments between China and Mexico under a win-win formula and long term cooperation …with around USD 70,000 millions of bilateral trade, China represents for Mexico its 2nd largest world trading partner while Mexico represents for China its 2nd largest trading partner in Latin America.”.

Sino-Mexican relations in many fields have improved in recent years. However, there is still much more to do to exploit potential of collaborative partnerships.

Nowadays, bilateral relations between Mexico and the United States appear uncertain due to new policies on immigration and trade. Accordingly, Mexico should have its eyes on China as a strategic partner.

The ambassador of China to Mexico Qiu Xiaoqi said, “both countries are living their best moments ever, the trust is mutual and has been strengthened between the two governments and leaders so far”.

It is worth mentioning that 2017 has been declared China-Mexico Culture Year. He added it “will be another large-scale event for the two-nation’s cultural exchange and will enhance mutual communications”.

Daniel Servitje, President of Grupo Bimbo, the largest bakery company worldwide with its headquarters in Mexico, said after the G20 Leaders’ Summit 2012 hosted in Mexico, “If you want to be in any business today, you better be close to what is happening in China. If we have global aspirations, we must stay in China.”

Hector Zavala, master student of the Yenching Academy of Peking University, alumni of  National Autonomous University of Mexico

(The opinions expressed here do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Panview or CCTV.com)

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