A closer economic and trade link between Shanghai and Mexico is being sought during Mexican President Felipe Calderon Hinojosa's meeting with city Mayor Han Zheng.

Han said there was a good development trend for enterprises from Shanghai to invest in Mexico. He said he was happy to see a closer link between Shanghai and Mexico in economic and trade cooperation in the future.

Han visited Jalisco and Mexico City with Shanghai delegates in 2006. Shanghai formed a relationship with Jalisco in 1998.

Chinese consumers were the real beneficiary of the closer trade link between Shanghai and Mexico as they could enjoy more Mexican-style foods, for instance, Calderon said.

Calderon arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night, kicking off a four-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

It's Calderon's first tour of China since he took office in December 2006. Calderon is scheduled to visit Beijing this evening.

Calderon said he was impressed by Shanghai's prosperity and expressed his best wishes for the success of the Beijing Olympic Games and World Expo 2010 in Shanghai.

Meanwhile, a forum was held in the city yesterday to study Mexico's investment environment.

(Shanghai Daily July 11, 2008)

Mexico aims to become the world's fifth-largest economy by 2050 based on its rich resources and young population, said Rodrigo Contreras, executive director of Investor Relations of government-backed ProMexico yesterday at the forum.

He suggested Chinese investors look into Mexico's infrastructure and automotive industries.