Chinese monthly magazine China Today, specialized in political, cultural, economic and social aspects of China, inaugurated Tuesday its Latin American branch office in Mexico City.  

The Deputy Director of Information of the China State Council, Cai Mingzhao, cut the ribbon during the inauguration ceremony at this Mexican capital.

China Today, first edited in Beijing since 1952, appeared for the first time in Spanish in 1960, will now be printed in Mexico for the first time, and from here will be distributed to the rest of Latin America.

Participating in the inauguration were Chinese ambassador to Mexico Ren Jingyu; Vice Minister of the Interior of Mexico, Ricardo Garcia, as well as the ambassadors of Chile, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua, and a representative of the Spanish Embassy.

The first number of the magazine printed in Mexico will appear on October 28 for its distribution on October 31.

Although other Chinese media have established their representations in Mexico, the publication and distribution of China Hoy in a Spanish-speaking country has no precedents.

Cai Mingzhao expressed in a speech that China Today since its creation has objectively and thoroughly presented to extensive sectors of Latin America, the politics, economy, culture and social life of China.

According to Cai, the magazine has promoted friendship and exchanges between China and countries of Latin America, thus becoming an important window for the Spanish-speaking nations to learn about China.

China Today has been an exceptional liaison for the friendship between China and Latin America, Cai Mingzhao affirmed.

In order to meet the demands of the Latin American readers, the Group of International Publications of China decided creating a Latin American branch office of the magazine, and edit and publish it in Mexico City.

China Today is the Spanish-language version of a publication also edited in Chinese, English, Arabic and French, and is distributed in over 150 countries and regions.

"We give this magazine to the Latin American friends as a token of the deep feeling the Chinese people has towards the Latin American nations," said Cai.

During the visit in Mexico of Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, in December 2003, the leaders of both countries jointly declared the establishment of a strategic relations between China and Mexico.

In August, 2004, the first meeting of the Joint Permanent Committee was celebrated, setting the foundations for bilateral cooperation.

As a magazine aimed at foreign audiences, China Today has the duty and capability of taking on the task of promoting the comprehension and exchanges between China and Latin America.

The magazine was founded in 1952 by the late honorary State President Soon Ching Ling, who turned it into a window for learning about China during the years of the Cold War.

China Today, thanks to its texts and attractive photos, has been the ideal vehicle for the promotion of political, economic, cultural and social changes of the Chinese nation in different periods.

China Today is dedicated to covering information on economic relations, trade and friendship between China and Latin America.

The establishment of the Latin American branch office of China Today shows that China is prepared to deepen the understanding with the Latin American developing countries, and promoting cooperation and common progress.

Cai said the Chinese press is prepared to make joint efforts along with their Mexican counterparts and of Latin America to deepen the traditional friendship between China and Mexico, and the rest of the Latin American countries.

China Today will booster communication between China and Latin America, in a glowingly globalized planet, he added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2004)