China, Mexico pledge to enhance cultural exchanges

Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping Thursday called on China and Mexico to improve cultural exchanges to consolidate the foundation of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks while visiting the ancient Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza, enjoying a light-hearted ending to his three-day state visit to Mexico.

Accompanied by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto and first lady Angelica Rivera, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan toured the archaeological site on foot, after being greeted with a ceremony conducted by locals in traditional Mayan dress.

Located some 1,400 km east of Mexico City, Chichen Itza features the stepped pyramids, temples, columned arcades and other stone structures sacred to the Maya. It is one of the most visited archaeological sites in Mexico with an estimated 1.2 million visitors every year.

Discussing cultural exchanges with Pena Nieto, Xi said China and Mexico are both ancient civilizations and their cultures, each with distinctive features, have far-reaching influence on the world.

He said different cultures and civilizations, while retaining their uniqueness, should tolerate and coexist with each other with an open-minded attitude so as to achieve common development and prosperity.

Pena Nieto, for his part, said he believed Xi's visit will help promote understanding and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

He said he hoped he could learn more about Chinese ancient civilization during his next trip to China.

Xi flew to Merida, capital of the state of Yucatan, Wednesday afternoon. He started his Mexican visit from Mexico City Tuesday afternoon.

During his stay, Xi and Pena Nieto agreed to lift the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mexico is the last leg of Xi's three-nation Latin American tour, which also took him to Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.

He arrived in the US state of California later Thursday for a meeting with US President Barack Obama.