Mexico–Portugal relations

Mexico-Portugal relations

Mexico
Portugal

Mexico–Portugal relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Portugal. Both nations are members of the Organization of Ibero-American States, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations.

History

The first official diplomatic contacts between Mexico and Portugal took place in 1843 in Washington, DC, USA; however, diplomatic relations were not established officially until 20 October 1864 under the government of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. In 1884, Mexico opened its first diplomatic mission in Lisbon; however, the mission was closed in 1918 when Portugal refused to recognize the government of Mexican President Venustiano Carranza. Diplomatic relations were restored between the two nations in 1929 and in 1959, diplomatic missions were opened in Lisbon and in Mexico City, respectively, and were elevated to the level of embassies.[1]

In October 2013, Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho visited Mexico on an official state visit. It was the first time a Portuguese Prime Minister had visited Mexico since 1996. The visit was to mark the beginning of 150 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two nations which is to be celebrated in Portugal in 2014.[2] In June 2014, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto visited Portugal on a state visit to commemorate the 150 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.[3]

State visits

Presidential visits from Mexico to Portugal[4]

Prime Ministerial and Presidential visits from Portugal to Mexico[5][6][7]

Trade

In 1997, Mexico signed a Free Trade Agreement with the European Union, of which Portugal is a member. Since the implementation of the free trade agreement in 2000, trade between the two nations has increased dramatically. Two-way trade between Mexico and Portugal has been increasing on average 13% per year. Total trade between the two nations amounted to $598 million USD in 2014.[8] Between 2000-2011, Mexican companies invested over $5 million USD in Portugal while at the same time, Portuguese companies invested over $60 million USD in Mexico.[9]

Portugal is Mexico's ninth biggest trading partner within the European Union while Mexico is Portugal's second biggest trading partner in Latin-America after Brazil. Mexico's primary exports to Portugal include: oil and electronic equipment while Portugal's main exports to Mexico include: butadiene and isoprene, gas and auto parts.[9]

Resident diplomatic missions

See also

References

  1. ↑ History of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Portugal (in Spanish)
  2. ↑ Portuguese Prime Minister on State visit to Mexico (in Spanish)
  3. ↑ State visit to Portugal (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Giras y Visitas Internacionales del C. Presidente de la República (in Spanish)
  5. ↑ Prime Minister António Guterres in Mexico (in Spanish)
  6. ↑ Heads of State at the Ibero-American Summit in Veracruz; 2014
  7. ↑ Visita de Estado del Presidente de la República Portuguesa (in Spanish)
  8. ↑ Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Portugal (in Spanish)
  9. 1 2 Economic and bilateral relations between Mexico and Portugal (in Spanish)
  10. ↑ Embassy of Mexico in Portugal (in Spanish)
  11. ↑ Embassy of Portugal in Mexico City (in Portuguese)
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