Mexican foreign minister to meet Wang Yi in China as US demands trade ties rollback

Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Roberto Velasco arrives in China on Sunday for his first official visit as his country navigates increasing US pressure to roll back Chinese trade ties.

The two-day visit will take place at the invitation of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing on Thursday.

He said China expected the visit to be an opportunity to deepen mutual political trust and cooperation, and “promote the steady growth” of ties to better benefit both nations.

The Mexican foreign ministry earlier confirmed the visit in an overnight social media post, noting that Velasco would meet Wang in Beijing before travelling to Chongqing to inaugurate Mexico’s new consulate there.

“This visit will allow for strengthening political dialogue and the cooperation agenda between both countries,” the post read.

Velasco, who took office in April, faces a delicate diplomatic balance. Mexico’s largest trading partner, the United States, is pressuring the Latin American nation to mirror its trade barriers against Chinese steel and aluminium as it reviews the 2020 US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).