China Says Its Ties With Mexico Are Not Directed Against or Dependent on Third Parties

China wants its relationship with Mexico kept separate from the pressure of other countries. Foreign Minister Wang Yi made that message during talks in Beijing with his Mexican counterpart, Roberto Velasco, as trade friction between the two economies continues.

“China-Mexico relations are not directed against any third party and should not be affected by any third party,” Wang said, according to a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement. He said Beijing supported Mexico’s independence and autonomy, its defense of sovereignty and security, and its opposition to outside interference.

Wang also called for more high-level exchanges, stronger political trust and deeper bilateral cooperation. He conveyed Chinese President Xi Jinping’s greetings to Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. Velasco said Mexico and China shared principles including respect for sovereignty and equality among countries.

Mexico imposed new tariffs earlier in the year on countries with which it has no trade agreements, including China. Imports from China affected by the measure fell 28% year on year during the first five months of 2026, according to Mexico’s Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Mexico’s government says the tariffs do not target any particular country. It presents them as a way to replace imports, increase domestic content in supply chains and protect about 350,000 jobs.

Beijing warned in March that it could retaliate against barriers affecting more than $30 billion in Chinese exports and urged Mexico to reverse the measures. Velasco’s visit was his first to China since taking office in April. It also coincided with Mexico’s negotiations with the United States and Canada over a review of the North American trade agreement. The official statement did not say whether Velasco discussed the tariffs directly.

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China-Mexico relations are not directed against any third party and should not be affected by any third party.