Chinese president in Mexico for state visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Mexico City on Tuesday for a three-day state visit aimed at lifting China-Mexico ties to a higher level.

The Chinese leader is scheduled to hold talks with his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto, who visited China and met Xi two months ago, on bilateral cooperation.

Xi is also expected to meet parliamentary leaders of Mexico to exchange views on bilateral issues.

During Xi's visit, the two countries will sign a series of cooperation deals in such areas as economy, trade and academics, and issue a joint statement, according to Chinese diplomats.

China-Mexico relations have been developing at a fast pace since the two countries became strategic partners in 2003. They have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and deepened political mutual trust.

China is Mexico's second largest trading partner, while Mexico is China's second biggest in Latin America. Last year, the two-way trade stood at 36.7 billion U.S. dollars.

Bilateral cooperation has also expanded continuously in the sectors of culture, education, science and technology, and tourism in recent years.

Both as major developing countries, China and Mexico have coordinated well on international affairs within the frameworks of the United Nations, the G20, and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation.

Mexico is the last leg of Xi's three-nation Latin America tour, which has already taken him to Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.

From Mexico, Xi will fly to the US state of California to meet with US President Barack Obama.