China's Xi urges closer ties in meeting with Mexican president

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday told his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum the two countries should "enhance exchanges" as they met on the sidelines of the G20 in Rio de Janeiro, state media said.

The Chinese leader is in Brazil this week for the G20 summit and met British Prime Minister Keir Starmer earlier in the day, with more bilateral meetings expected Tuesday.

He was previously in Peru, where he inaugurated Latin America's first Beijing-funded port in the city of Chancay -- a symbol of the Asian superpower's growing influence on the continent as it prepares to face off with a new Donald Trump administration.

Meeting Sheinbaum, Mexico's first female president, state news agency Xinhua said Xi had called on the two countries to "enhance exchanges, renew friendship (and) make good use of the highly complementary nature of the two economies".

The Chinese leader called on the two countries to "constantly advance practical cooperation and push for all-round development of bilateral relations in the new era", state media said.

"China is ready to work with Mexico to uphold multilateralism and international fairness and justice, and inject positive energy into the development of the world economy," Xi added, according to the news agency.

Brazil will also host Xi for a state visit, during which he is expected to meet with President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who has carried out a delicate balancing act as he seeks to deepen ties with China while improving relations with the United States.