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Carlos de Ikaza and Andris Teikmanis. Mexico, 16.04.2013. Photo: flickr.com

During a meeting with the deputy foreign minister of Mexico, Carlos de Ikaza, the two sides discussed economic cooperation. The Latvian side urged Mexico to support Latvia's OECD candidacy and evaluate the possibility of utilizing the Northern Distribution Network via Latvia.

Due to the fact that both countries have signed the convention on the avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income and capital, Teikmanis and de Icaza discussed possibilities for enhancing economic relations and pointed at pharmaceutics, food industry and information technology as prospective sectors for cooperation. Cooperation in the field of air traffic was discussed, and the parties recognized that the Mexican side should finalize work on the Latvia-Mexico air traffic agreement, thus setting up a legal framework for regular air transportation between Latvia and Mexico.

The Mexican and Latvian representatives also exchanged points of views on challenges in the EU's Eastern Partnership initiative region, as well as relations with Russia and Central Asia. The Mexican side was informed about Latvia's upcoming EU presidency in 2015, as well as the situation in the euro-zone. The two sides also exchanged point of views on cooperation within international organizations, the EU-Mexico strategic partnership, as well as Mexico's role in helping to solve issue related to global climate change, LETA was informed by the Foreign Ministry's information and public relations department.

At the meeting with the director general for Europe at the Mexican Economy Ministry Manuel Luna Calderon, the parties agreed on the necessity to develop economic cooperation and seek new cooperation formats, in particular, for promoting direct contacts between entrepreneurs. The parties noted that a Mexican building material company, CEMEX, one of the world leaders in the sector, has been successfully operating in Latvia.

In a discussion with representatives from the National Council for Culture and Arts of Mexico, the Mexican side showed great interest in expanding cooperation in the cultural sector. Mexican officials expressed readiness to take part in the activities in Riga, the European Capital of Culture in 2014, were interested in the Nationwide Latvian Song and Dance Festival, as well as in organizing exhibitions by Mexican artists in Riga and cooperating in the filmmaking sector.

The previous political consultations between the Latvian and Mexican foreign ministries took place in 2007 in Riga.