Mexican foreign minister to visit India

New Delhi, March 10 (IANS) Mexican Foreign Minister Claudia Ruiz-Massieu Salinas will arrive on a two-day visit to India on Friday during the course of which she will hold bilateral talks with her Indian counterpart Sushma Swaraj.

“Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, Claudia Ruiz-Massieu Salinas, will visit India on March 11 and 12,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said at a media briefing here on Thursday.

“She will meet our external affairs minister (Sushma Swaraj). We expect that this meeting will result in a comprehensive review of the entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political ties, commercial and trade relations, and cooperation in financial, technical and other areas,” he said.

According to Swarup, India and Mexico share historical links and strong cultural and people-to-people ties.

“Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and the president of Mexico (Enrique Pena Nieto) had met on September 28, 2015, in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA,” he said.

Mexico is Latin America's second largest economy and its largest trading nation. It is also the world's 14th largest economy.

“It is therefore natural trade and commerce are one of the main drivers in our bilateral relationship,” Swarup said.

“Our current trade is approximately $6.25 billion. Mexico also has one of the world's largest hydrocarbon reserves, ranking among the top 10 oil-producing countries.”

Mexico also has the world's fourth largest shale oil reserves.

“India is the third largest importer of crude oil from Mexico. Hence, energy ties are also expected to be discussed during this visit,” the spokesman said.