Chinese Premier Wen hails investment deal with Mexico

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Friday hailed a deal with Mexico on promoting investment.
"The newly signed deal on promoting and protecting mutual investment is a landmark in bilateral ties," Wen said in a meeting with visiting Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa.
Governments and businesses in both countries should step up exchanges and expand cooperation in areas ranging from trade to investment, industry and technology, Wen said.
China is Mexico's second-largest trade partner, with bilateral trade hitting 14.97 billion U.S. dollars in 2007, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.
As major world economies, Calderon said, Mexico and China should work more closely to expand trade and boost investment.
"My visit is aimed at deepening the strategic partnership with China and sealing a package of cooperative deals," Calderon said.
Calderon came to China on Wednesday after he attended the meeting of the Group of Eight in Japan.
Following Calderon's talks with his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao earlier on Friday, they witnessed the signing of wide-ranging agreements on extradition, investment, pork exports and social benefits.
"I hope these deals will bring bilateral ties to a new era," Calderon told Wen.
While hailing the agreements, Wen proposed the two countries make the best of their advantages and create new areas for cooperation.
The premier said China would like to boost trade and investment cooperation with Mexico and seek mutual benefits and common prosperity.
In response, Calderon said stronger cooperation is definitely in the interests of both countries.
"As China is growing rapidly, Mexico will grasp this opportunity to work with China so as to achieve common development," Calderon said.
During his four-day visit to China, Calderon first stopped in the business hub of Shanghai before coming to Beijing on Thursday.