Mexico strengthens cooperation with ASEAN

Mexico is making final preparations to join the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC), aiming to deepen and expand cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and its member states across various sectors.

Speaking at a recent meeting with ASEAN ambassadors in Mexico, Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs María Teresa Mercado emphasized that Mexico attaches importance to its relationship with ASEAN and considers TAC membership as a gateway to broader collaboration, particularly in areas such as climate change, science and technology, and artificial intelligence (AI).

She further noted that joining the TAC would open up new opportunities to strengthen cooperation in key spheres, including economy, trade and investment, culture, and education.

Fernando Gonzalez Saiffe, director general for Asia-Pacific at Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that the Asia-Pacific as a priority in the country's foreign policy, given its economic dynamism and strategic geopolitical importance.

He also noted that Mexico and ASEAN share stance and core values at multilateral forums, such as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the G20, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and the United Nations (UN).

Malaysian Ambassador Jamal Sharifuddin Johan, who currently chairs the ASEAN Committee in Mexico City (ACMC), stated that Mexico’s participation in the TAC will bring tangible benefits to both Mexico and ASEAN member states.

Meanwhile, Vietnamese Ambassador-designate to Mexico Nguyen Van Hai held that through exchanges, Mexico and ASEAN countries will work together to propose specific measures to further strengthen and expand their friendly relations across various fields.

Regarding Vietnam-Mexico relations, Hai suggested maintaining dialogue and cooperation mechanisms between the two countries, including political consultations and sessions of the joint committee on economy, trade, and investment, thereby, contributing to enhancing their long-standing friendship.