Chinese President Hu Jintao walks with his wife Liu Yongqing as they arrive in Mexico City Sept.11, 2005. Hu is in Mexico for a state visit to further expand cooperation between China and Mexico.

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived Sunday in Mexico City on a state visit to further expand cooperation between China and Mexico.

During his visit, President Hu will exchange views with his Mexican counterpart, Vicente Fox, and other Mexican leaders on bilateral relations and international and regional issues.

The two countries are also expected to sign a number of cooperation documents during Hu's visit.

Since the two countries established diplomatic relations 33 years ago, bilateral relations have developed smoothly and cooperation has yielded fruitful results in various sectors.

Bilateral trade exceeded 7 billion US dollars in 2004, 44 percent higher than the previous year, and China's investment in Mexico has risen to nearly 200 million dollars.

In an interview last month, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said that as developing countries, China and Mexico share many common interests in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.

The Chinese president's visit to Mexico will help push forward the bilateral strategic partnership and promote cooperation between China and Latin America as well as the unity and coordination between developing countries, he said.

Hu flew in from Toronto, Canada's largest city, after a three-day visit to Canada. He will leave Mexico City Tuesday for New York to attend the UN summit scheduled for Sept. 14-16.

Source: Xinhua