Economic and trade relations between China and Mexico will be further strengthened in the future, said Mexican Ambassador to China Jose Luis Bernal.?

The ambassador said he has a "huge expectation" on the solid uptrend in trade and investment between the two sides.

China's exports to Mexico are further incorporated into the manufacturing sector, which "contribute to employment, productivity and foreign trade in Mexico," while China's imports from Mexico also witnessed a sharp increase, Bernal said in a recent interview.

Saying he is looking forward to the first China International Import Expo slated for November, Bernal told China Daily, "We hope Mexico can become a very important supplier to Chinese consumers."

China has become a strategic partner for Mexico in such key areas as trade, investment and tourism, the ambassador said.

2018 marks the sixth anniversary of the implementation of the China-Mexico Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Total trade volume between the two countries reached $81 billion in 2017, while Chinese investment in Mexico increased four-fold compared to 2016, according to Bernal.

The number of Chinese tourists visiting the Latin American country jumped by 15 percent in the same period, due to more direct air connectivity between the two countries and visa facilitation.

The ambassador further emphasized the significant role that local governments have played in making China-Mexico relations more extensive and beneficial.

He made the comments during a promotional event for the state of Durango held Friday in Beijing. More than 50 Chinese business leaders attended the meeting.

Located in northwest Mexico, Durango is the fourth largest state in terms of size.

In the framework of this event, Durango Governor Jose Rosas Aispuro Torres introduced the competitive industries of his state, such as automobile, mining resources and clean energy, in a move to attract more investment from Chinese companies.