LEON, Mexico -- China and Mexico were trusted friends and partners of mutual benefit, a senior Chinese political adviser said Friday during the opening ceremony of the Festival of China in Mexico.

Abdul'ahat Abdulrixit, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), inaugurated the event together with former Mexican president Vicente Fox Quesada in the central city of Leon.

Representatives from political, financial and cultural circles in Mexico and China also participated in the event.

Economic and trade relations were the basis for deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, the senior CPPCC official said, noting Mexico had become China's second largest trading partner and largest export market in Latin America while China was Mexico's second largest trading partner in the world.

"China and Mexico are good friends and partners. We have no conflict of fundamental interests and share similar or identical criteria in our affairs," he said.

He proposed the two sides deepen political relations to create a favorable environment for mutually beneficial cooperation in all fields.

Meanwhile, the two nations also needed to further facilitate bilateral trade and properly handle trade frictions to achieve sustainable development of China-Mexico trade cooperation, he said.

In addition, China and Mexico should explore their complementary potential to promote bilateral pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation, he added.

Fox said the Festival of China would help build a bridge for cultural exchanges between China and Mexico.

Recalling his visit to China earlier this year, Fox said he had witnessed the enormous changes in China's development over the years, from which Mexico should learn.

Meanwhile, Zeng Gang, China's ambassador to Mexico, said 2012 was a significant year in the history of bilateral relations and the festival played an important and positive role in promoting cooperation and economic exchanges between the two countries.

The three-day festival is an international platform for the development of China-Mexico cultural, economic and trade cooperation. It will include, among other things, Chinese art exhibitions, culture symposiums, economic forums and cultural meetings.