Under the theme “Fighting the COVID-19 Pandemic: Sharing Experience and Meeting Challenges,” the 4th China-Mexico Symposium was held online in mid-October.

Gao Xiang, vice president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, pointed out that since the outbreak of the pandemic, China and Mexico have helped each other and overcome great difficulties together. Mexico provided firm moral support at critical moments in China’s fight against the epidemic, and China, within its capacity, also provided assistance to Mexico’s pandemic prevention efforts, fully demonstrating fraternity.

In light of the common task of fighting the pandemic, restoring the economy and safeguarding people’s livelihoods, deepening strategic mutual trust, and strengthening solidarity and cooperation are the only way for the international community, including China and Mexico, to move forward from this crisis and restore development. To this end, Gao suggested deepening anti-pandemic cooperation, innovating with development opportunities, and improving global governance. He called on all people in China and Mexico to work together to make their due contributions to the eventual victory against the pandemic and the comprehensive enhancement of China-Mexico cooperation.

The COVID-19 pandemic once again reminds people that human beings live in an interconnected global village, where we all share happiness and hardships, and that no country can survive a major crisis alone, said Zhu Qingqiao, Chinese ambassador to Mexico. The pandemic has once again highlighted the importance and urgency of building a community of shared future for mankind. In the process of promoting its construction, China regards Mexico as a good friend and partner, and is willing to work with Mexico to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two countries, and turn the experiences of fighting side by side against the pandemic, and the friendship of mutual support, into a strong driving force to expand exchanges and cooperation in various fields. This will enhance the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership and better benefit the two countries and their peoples.

Jose Luis Bernal, Mexican ambassador to China, said that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought severe challenges to the economic and social development of countries across the globe, and it has also exerted a profound impact on exchanges between countries. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Mexico and China have always paid special attention to how to deepen cooperation to respond to public health emergencies and effectively control the pandemic. In the future, the two countries should work to further deepen bilateral cooperation, resolve various crises, and promote the continuous development of Mexico-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Enrique Graue, rector of the National Autonomous University of Mexico, highly affirmed the mutual support and close cooperation between Mexico and China amid the pandemic, especially the new progress of cooperation in the field of vaccines. He said that the pandemic has brought huge challenges to mankind. Against this background, the Fourth China-Mexico Symposium was held as scheduled, showing the resilience of the academic community and demonstrating that the spirit of international academic cooperation has not only been maintained, but also gained new momentum in adversity.

Silvia Giorguli, president of El Colegio de Mexico, said that both Mexico and China have a long history, and both splendid civilizations share a long history of friendly exchanges. Various exchanges, including academic exchanges, should be further promoted. Focusing on the theme of fighting the pandemic, this webinar provided a valuable platform for experts and scholars to share experience and exchange ideas, helping the two countries to cooperate in fighting the pandemic and solving related socio-economic issues.