MEXICO CITY, Aug. 9 -- China and Mexico have great potential for cooperation, visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong said Monday.

During a meeting with Roberto Gil Zuarth, president of the Mexican Senate, Liu said both China and Mexico, as two big developing countries and important emerging economies, are in a critical period for comprehensively deepening reform and national development.

China attaches great importance to the development of China-Mexico ties, she said, adding that her country has put Mexico at an important position for overall diplomacy and relations with Latin America.

In 2013, she said, China and Mexico opened a new chapter for bilateral relations as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart, Enrique Pena Nieto, jointly announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

China is willing to take the celebration of the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Mexico next year as an opportunity to dovetail its 13th Five-Year Plan and innovation-driven development strategy with Mexico's structural reform, Liu said.

The vice premier stressed China's willingness to boost cooperation in such areas as industrial investment, infrastructure, telecommunications, energy and innovation.

China will also further strengthen exchanges with Mexico in the fields of education, culture, sports and tourism and push forward their all-round cooperation for more substantial results, so as to give impetus to common development and better benefit the two peoples, she noted.

Liu voiced her hope that the Mexican Senate will enhance exchanges with the National People's Congress of China and play a constructive role in promoting bilateral friendship and cooperation.

For his part, Gil Zuarth said Mexico-China relations have continuously made headway in recent years and are currently at their best.

Mexico regards China as an important partner for strategic cooperation, he said, adding that his country is committed to continuously strengthening trade and economic cooperation and people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China.

He said Mexico hopes to conduct closer exchanges and cooperation with China in trade and economy, innovation, education, culture and tourism.

Mexico is ready to make full use of its geographical advantage to serve as an important bridge linking China and other Eurasian nations with the American market, Gil Zuarth said.

The Mexican parliament will continue to be committed to promoting mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the two peoples and become a trustworthy partner of cooperation for China, he added.