Spain continues to be committed to its trade and political relations with Mexico, a visiting Spanish official told media on Monday.

"Investment in Mexico is based on long term, strategic commitments," Spain's Secretary of State for Ibero-America Juan Pablo de Laiglesia said at a joint press conference with Lourdes Aranda, Mexico's deputy Foreign Minister.

"Some Spanish firms are even investing more in Mexico than in Spain right now," he said.

Aranda said that de Laiglesia had met with Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa Cantellano and discussed deepening the bilateral relations.

The two sides also discussed cooperation in public health and cooperation with the G20 on dealing with the global financial crisis, she said.

De Laiglesia said Spain views Mexico not as a recipient of aid, but as a partner in helping third nations to develop, including those in Central America.

"Central America is a development priority for both the Mexican and Spanish governments," de Laiglesia said. "We will continue to help one another and will be looking ever more towards third parties."

He added that he and Espinosa had discussed the European Union-Latin America summit that is to be held during Spain's six-month-long presidency of the EU, which begins in January 2010, and the Ibero-American Summit that will be held in Estoril, Portugal in November.

Source:Xinhua