President Xi Jinping wrapped up a whirlwind three-nation tour to the Caribbean and Latin America on Thursday in Mexico. The fruits of Xi's trip indicate China's new leadership is both sincere and committed to stepping up the country's engagement with the growing and economically vibrant region.

In Mexico, Xi and his Mexican counterpart Enrique Pena Nieto decided to raise the bilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership. This marks a new beginning in Sino-Mexican cooperation and sets a clear target for the development of bilateral ties over the next decade.

Among a series of initiatives to promote bilateral cooperation, the two sides announced that China will build a Chinese cultural center in Mexico City, the first in Latin America and the Caribbean, and a Mexican cultural center will be set up in Beijing. The move will help lay a solid foundation for deepening mutual understanding between the two peoples.