Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (R) meets with visiting Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard in Beijing, on July 2, 2019. [Photo: fmprc]

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with visiting Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard on Tuesday, with both sides calling for upholding multilateralism.

This is the first formal meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries since the establishment of the new Mexican government.

Wang noted that both China and Mexico are major developing countries with global influence and ancient civilizations.

China attaches great importance to Mexico's international status, looks forward to Mexico's development prospects, and always views and develops China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership from a strategic and long-term perspective, he added.

The Chinese foreign minister also pointed out that since Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador took office last December, both countries have maintained close friendly exchanges at all levels, and bilateral ties have maintained a good momentum of development. China is ready to work with Mexico, under the joint guidance of the two heads of state, to further align development strategies, cultivate new growth points of cooperation in emerging areas such as clean energy, e-commerce, smart cities, and satellite aerospace, Wang said.

He also stressed that the two sides should facilitate personnel exchanges, strengthen coordination and cooperation in international affairs, jointly safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and make contributions to the construction of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ebrard, for his part, said Mexico can learn from China's successful development experiences.

Mexico attaches great importance to deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership between Mexico and China, regarding it as a priority of Mexico's diplomacy, the Mexican foreign minister said, adding that this is a strategic choice made independently by Mexico.

He also stressed that Mexico supports China to firmly safeguard its national sovereignty, and any external attempts to interfere in Hong Kong affairs will not succeed.