Visiting Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping on Tuesday raised a five-point proposal for maintaining the rapid development of Sino-Mexican economic and trade cooperation at a luncheon hosted by Chinese and Mexican entrepreneurs.

First, Xi said both sides should treat and advance their economic and trade cooperation from a strategic perspective.

As big developing countries, China and Mexico are influential in world economy, trade and finance, Xi said, adding that both sides should be fully aware the significance of enhancing economic and trade cooperation for promoting their own development and safeguarding the common interests of developing countries.

The two countries should further tap the potentials, enrich the contents and ways, and open new channels and fields, to raise their economic and trade cooperation to a new level, Xi added.

Xi reiterated that opening-up to the outside world is the basic national policy of China, and the Chinese market will always be open. He said China does not seek a trade surplus with Mexico, but a trade balance between the two markets.

Second, he asked the two governments to further improve their services. In recent years, the Chinese and Mexican governments have maintained close collaborations over the development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and have signed a series of documents to create legal assurances and better conditions for the trade.

He asked the two governments to more actively eliminate the obstacles in bilateral trade and investment, and to improve the efficiency and convenience for those business activities.

Third, the vice president asked the two sides to actively promote cooperation in important sectors, such as mining, telecommunications, agriculture, fisheries, processing and assembly and new energy.

Fourth, Xi urged Chinese and Mexican enterprises to be the main force in bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

The businesses of the two countries have sincere will to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation and pursue interests amid economic globalization and they are the main force in furthering the Sino-Mexican economic and trade cooperation, Xi said.

He expressed hope that both businesses could broaden their contacts, enhance mutual understanding, tap potentials and strengthen strategic cooperation to move toward complementing each other with respective advantages.

Fifth, the Chinese leader asked both countries to expand cooperation in international economic affairs.

As economic globalization continues to develop, China and Mexico have seen growing collaboration and cooperation in world and regional economic affairs, Xi said.

At present, the two countries can enhance consultations and expand cooperation over addressing the financial crisis, reforming the international financial system, advancing the Doha round of world trade talks, to jointly safeguard the legitimate rights of developing countries, Xi added.

Xi is on a three-day visit to Mexico from Monday to Wednesday. He will also visit Jamaica, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil and Malta, which will last until Feb. 22.

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2009)