Claudia Sheinbaum speaks at a press conference on June 2, 2024 local time as she is projected to become Mexico's first woman president. The 61-year-old former mayor of Mexico City led by about 30 percentage points over her main rival, businesswoman Xóchitl Gálvez. Sheinbaum will take office on October 1. Photo: VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday congratulated Claudia Sheinbaum on her election as president of Mexico. The Chinese Foreign Ministry also expressed willingness to work with the new Mexican government to continuously enrich the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership and bring the bilateral relations to a new level. 

Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City who is 61 years old, gave an acceptance speech in the early hours of Monday morning after winning the presidency with between 58.3 percent and 60.7 percent of the vote, according to media reports. She will become the country's first female president in its more than 200 years of independence. 

Mexico is a major country in Latin America and an important emerging market. Under the strategic guidance of the presidents of China and Mexico, our bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of growth, with deepening political mutual trust, fruitful practical cooperation, vibrant cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and close coordination on multilateral affairs, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Tuesday. 

China always views its relations with Mexico from a strategic height and long-term perspective. We stand ready to work with the new government of Mexico to seek closer synergy between our development strategies, enrich the China-Mexico comprehensive strategic partnership, and bring the bilateral relations to a new level, Mao said. 

Sheinbaum will be inaugurated on October 1 and will serve a six-year term, according to media reports. Some observers said that as Mexico's first female president, Sheinbaum faces the primary task of uniting the government to ensure she can represent the interests of all Mexican people, not just her supporters. 

After taking office, Sheinbaum can gradually implement her policies, including focusing on environmental protection, moderate reforms and support for the poor, Wang Youming, director of the Institute of Developing Countries at the China Institute of International Studies in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

However, Mexico's safety issues, including violence, drug gangs, police collusion and political infighting, are serious challenges Sheinbaum must address, Wang said, noting that economic issues would also remain a fundamental concern for Mexico.

As for future China-Mexico cooperation, some Chinese experts have expressed anticipation, particularly in the fields of new energy vehicles and the green economy, given Sheinbaum's background as a physicist with a doctorate in energy engineering.  

Sheinbaum is likely to continue the current Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's friendly policy toward China and she may also seek to enhance cooperation with China in the digital economy and green energy sectors, Wang said.

Wang said that Mexico possesses abundant lithium resource and faces a need for a green transformation in its petroleum and petrochemical sectors, which creates opportunities for cooperation between China and Mexico in mineral resource development and energy transition.

Moreover, China's high-speed rail technology and railway construction capabilities are internationally renowned. Mexico has a significant demand for railway infrastructure development, and Chinese companies are well-positioned to increase investment in this sector and participate in Mexico's railway construction and projects, Wang said. 

On April 5, 2023, Sheinbaum, then mayor of Mexico City, met with Chinese Ambassador to Mexico Zhang Run, during which she highly praised the development of China-Mexico relations and the achievements of their practical cooperation. 

According to a release from the Chinese Embassy in Mexico, Sheinbaum noted that Chinese companies have actively participated in multiple infrastructure construction projects in Mexico City, contributing to convenient, safe and green travel for the city's residents. Mexico City places great importance on cooperation with China and welcomes Chinese companies to participate in the revitalization project of the northern industrial zone of the city. 

In July 2022, Sheinbaum also attended the launch ceremony of Mexico City's metro Line 1, where Sheinbaum and other attendees hailed the project and thanked Chinese enterprises, according to a release from the Chinese Embassy's WeChat public account. 

Aside from keeping friendly relations with China, Sheinbaum may also develop balanced and diverse diplomatic strategies, experts noted. Considering the significant geopolitical factors and the US' position as Mexico's most important trading partner and source of foreign investment, Sheinbaum may strengthen cooperation with the US while fostering friendly relations with other important powers, including China, Brazil, and the EU, Wang said. 

As some US politicians have targeted Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and the Biden administration announced in May a 100 percent tariff on Chinese-made EVs, Mexico may also face pressure from the US on potential of cooperating with China in the EV industries, analysts said. 

Some analysts said Sheinbaum would deal with the pressure well as a balanced policy would not only underscore Mexico's independent position on the international platform but also bring more opportunities for Mexico on economic development and international cooperation.