MEXICO CITY, March 25  -- Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), on Sunday ended a visit to Mexico, which was aimed at deepening the strategic partnership established by the two nations in December 2003.

During the five-day visit in Mexico, Li met Mexican President Felipe Calderon and President of the Senate, Manlio Fabio Beltrones Rivera, Secretary of Foreign Relations Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, and Manuel Espino, president of the ruling National Action Party.

During the meetings, both sides agreed to continue the momentum of the exchange of high-level visits and to advance the bilateral strategic partnership to a new high.

When meeting with Calderon, Li noted the progress made in Sino-Mexican relations, saying China is willing to continuously push forward the strategic partnership.

Li expressed the Chinese government's interest in boosting the bilateral relations in all sectors, including high-level political dialogues and legislative official exchanges.

Calderon restated his nation's commitment to the strategic partnership, saying economic cooperation is of special importance to bilateral relations.

In his talks with Espinosa, Li proposed expanding bilateral economic cooperation in a number of fields such as trade, culture, education, science and technology, news and tourism, as well as communication between non-governmental groups.

He also called for increased dialogue and coordination in international affairs, especially those concerning efforts to solve development problems, safeguard common interests and push forward common development.

While meeting with Beltrones, Li praised the legislatures' role in enhancing bilateral ties, mainly thanks to their legislation and supervision.

China's top legislative body, the National People's Congress, and its Mexican counterpart, must work together to promote bilateral relations and mutual development, he said.

In recent years, China and Mexico, which established diplomatic relations 35 years ago, have witnessed increasingly vigorous growth in bilateral links.

Mexico has become the second largest trade partner of China in Latin America, while China is Mexico's second largest trade partner, after the United States, and its largest trade partner in the Asia Pacific region.

Mexico is the first leg of Li's visit to Latin America. He is currently in Caracas on a three-day visit and he will also visit Surinam and Peru.