On the afternoon of December 12, 2003, visiting Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with Mexican President Vicente Fox at the National Palace of Mexico.

Before their talks, Fox held a welcoming ceremony at the National Palace for Premier Wen. In a warm address delivered after the Mexican military band played the national anthems of Mexico and China, Fox noted that Wen's listing Mexico in his first visit abroad shows both countries are expecting to further strengthen bilateral relations. China is now playing an increasingly important role in the international arena, and Mexico will make efforts to work with China to create a more prosperous and equitable world. In response, Premier Wen voiced the hope that his visit will help to enhance mutual trust, expand consensus, deepen cooperation and seek common progress, and to usher the bilateral friendly cooperative relations into a new developing period. After their addresses, the two leaders inspected the Guard of Honor. Then they stepped into the welcoming lines made up of children, hugging and shaking hands with them affectionately, which aroused cheers and applauds of the children.

In their meeting, Fox highly evaluated the smooth development of Mexico-China relations and pointed out that the Mexican government, firmly pursuing the One China policy, considers China as a friendly and reliable cooperative partner, and expects to make joint efforts with China to promote the development of Mexico-China relations in an all-around way. Mexico's Secretary of Tourism, Secretary of Economy, Secretary of Treasury and Public Credit, and Secretary of Foreign Relations briefed Wen and other Chinese guests on cooperation between Mexico and China in tourism, trade, energy, finance, aviation and the fight against terrorism, as well as future plans of cooperation in these fields.

Wen said that since China and Mexico established diplomatic relations 31 years ago, their bilateral ties, which have withstood the test of time and vicissitudes on the international arena, are at the best period for development. China feels satisfied with it.

Wen pointed out that as China and Mexico are both important developing countries, forging an enduring and friendly cooperation partnership not only conforms to the fundamental and long-term interests of the two peoples, but also contributes to boosting the South-South cooperation, enhancing the overall national strength of the developing countries, and promoting establishment of a fair and rational new world order. He said that both sides bear a strong wish to further promote bilateral relations from a strategic high. Wen said that he fully agreed with President Fox's comment that "The two countries are cooperation partners and in no way rivals in competition," and "Relations between the two countries are facing a unique and strategic fine opportunity." Premier Wen formally announced establishing a strategic partnership between China and Mexico. To achieve that end, he put forward the following five proposals: Firstly, an inter-governmental standing committee should be created to guide and coordinate bilateral cooperation in various fields. Secondly, exchanges between the Chinese and Mexican governments, parliaments, parties and non-governmental organizations should be intensified while the role of the existing cooperation mechanisms in diplomacy, trade, culture and education as well as science and technology should be brought into full play. Thirdly, diversity of bilateral economic cooperation should be promoted. China encourages investment by both Chinese and Mexican enterprises with strong points and good reputation in Mexican and China, to jointly develop international markets through business cooperation and mutual complementing. China is willing to increase its imports from Mexico. Meanwhile, the two countries should sign agreements on investment protection, avoidance of double taxation, etc at an early date. Fourthly, bilateral exchanges in culture, education and science and technology should be further deepened. China is considering approving Mexico as a tourism destination for its nationals and establishing cultural centers in each other's cities. China is supportive of the convocation of the fifth inter-governmental mixed committee on science and technological cooperation and also ready to sign a new agreement on scientific cooperation with Mexico. Fifthly, coordination and cooperation in multilateral affairs should be strengthened so as to safeguard the interests of the developing countries and contribute to world peace and development.

After the meeting, the two leaders attended the signing ceremony of health and cultural cooperation agreements as well as accords on intellectual property rights protection and telecommunications. And then, they jointly met with journalists and answered their questions.