MEXICO CITY - Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto Tuesday announced to upgrade the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Chinese president arrived in Mexico City earlier in the day for a three-day state visit aimed at lifting the China-Mexico strategic partnership to a higher level, and held talks with Pena Nieto on bilateral cooperation.

China's President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with Mexico's President Enrique Pena Nieto during a news conference at Los Pinos Presidential Palace in Mexico City June 4, 2013. Xi is on a three-day official visit to Mexico. [Photo/Agencies]

During the talks, the two presidents agreed that strengthening the China-Mexico long-term friendly cooperation serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples, and helps promote unity and cooperation among developing countries.

Xi said the decision to upgrade the bilateral relationship is a realistic requirement, and it also sets a clear target for the development of bilateral relations.

Pena Nieto, for his part, said the upgrade of the Mexico-China ties indicates that bilateral cooperation has entered a new stage.

The Mexican side is ready to work with China to constantly improve cooperation at higher levels and through more effective mechanisms so as to achieve common development, he said.

The two heads of state agreed to push forward the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership by working jointly in the following four aspects.

Firstly, the two sides will view their relations from a strategic and long-term perspective and improve political mutual trust. The two countries will accommodate each other's concerns, and show mutual understanding and support on issues concerning each other's core interests.

China and Mexico will maintain exchanges between high-level leaders, political parties and legislatures, give full play to the existing consultation and dialogue mechanisms, and improve coordination on each other's development strategies.

Secondly, the two sides will improve practical cooperation in accordance with their development strategies, and agree to increase mutual investment in key areas such as energy, mining, infrastructure and high technology.

In order to promote trade balance, China supports the increase of imports from Mexico, while Mexico welcomes Chinese enterprises to invest here and promises to create favorable conditions for Chinese investors.

The two countries will also maintain exchanges and learn from each other in such areas as poverty reduction, environmental protection and urbanization.

Thirdly, as two major countries with rich cultural traditions, China and Mexico will improve cultural exchanges. Both countries will encourage more exchanges between art troupes, promote tourism and strengthen communication among students, academics, journalists and athletes.

China will build a Chinese cultural center in Mexico City, the first in Latin America and the Caribbean, and Mexico will establish a Mexican cultural center in Beijing as well.

Fourthly, China and Mexico will improve multilateral coordination based on their common interests and responsibilities on major international issues.

The two countries will maintain close communication and coordination on global economic governance, energy security, food safety and climate change.

They will help developing countries gain a bigger voice in the international community, and safeguard the common interests of the two countries and the developing nations.

China and Mexico support the establishment of the China-Latin America forum and promote the overall cooperation between China and Latin America at a higher level.

After their talks, Xi and Pena Nieto signed a joint statement between the two countries, witnessed the signing of a host of agreements and jointly met the press.

Prior to their talks, Pena Nieto staged a grand welcoming ceremony for Xi with a 21-gun salute.

Pena Nieto said at the ceremony that China has become a major global economic engine and an important balancing power in international relations.

As two emerging powers, Mexico and China are each other's important strategic cooperative partners, and the Mexican side is ready to forge closer ties with the Chinese side to achieve common development, the Mexican president said.

Pena Nieto believed Xi's visit will advance bilateral cooperation into a new stage and promote bilateral ties to a higher level.

Xi, for his part, said the Chinese and Mexican peoples feel close to each other, as the two countries are both ancient civilizations and have a glorious history of fighting bravely for national independence and liberation.

Since the two sides established diplomatic ties in 1972, China and Mexico have achieved rapid development of friendly cooperation in all fields, shown mutual understanding and support to each other, and maintained close cooperation in international affairs, Xi said, adding that they are good friends and good partners.

The Chinese president noted that China and Mexico are faced with the common task of developing economy and improving people's livelihood.

China is ready to work with Mexico to constantly enrich the content of bilateral strategic partnership, promote mutually beneficial cooperation and contribute to world peace, stability and prosperity, he said.

Xi said his visit to Mexico aims to deepen mutual trust, expand cooperation and enhance friendship. "I believe with our joint efforts, China-Mexico relations will enter a new stage," he said.

Xi, accompanied by Pena Nieto, then inspected Mexico's guard of honor. Members of the Mexican cabinet and military leaders also attended the welcoming ceremony.

Mexico is the last leg of Xi's ongoing three-nation Latin America tour, which has already taken him to Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.

From Mexico, Xi will fly to the US state of California to hold a summit meeting with US President Barack Obama.