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The BMC Lights Up in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of China-Mexico Diplomatic Relations
Date: 2022-02-22
Source: Foreign Affairs Offices of Beijing Municipality and Tongzhou District
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The Grand Canal glinted in lights shined from the Canal Business District, a blend of elements both ancient and modern. February 14, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mexico. On that night, two buildings at the Canal Business District in the Beijing Municipal Administrative Center (BMC) were illuminated. Lights in colors of the national flags of the two countries were reflected in the rivers of the Grand Canal. The ceremony celebrated 50 years of friendship between China and Mexico, and also presented a vibrant BMC to the world.

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The buildings of the Canal Business District in the BMC lighted with the main colors of the national flags of China and Mexico

The chilly weather cannot cool down the 50-year-long friendship between China and Mexico. The Mexican Ambassador to China, H.E. Jesus Seade, went to the Grand Canal in person with his wife to watch the light show and expressed his sincere wish for deeper bilateral relations and greater benefits to the two peoples.

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The Mexican Ambassador to China in an interview

The beauty of different civilizations is shared and equally appreciated. On the other side of the world, Beijing’s sister city, Mexico City, lighted up its landmark independence monument in Chinese red. Beijing and Mexico City represent ancient civilizations in the east and the west respectively. The light shows across the Pacific ocean planted seeds of friendship in the hearts of the two peoples and expressed their aspirations for further exchanges and cooperation.

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Mexico City lighted up the independence monument in Chinese red

The Canal Business District plays an important role in developing the Integrated National Demonstration Zone for Opening up the Services Sector and the China (Beijing) Pilot Free Trade Zone. It is also a trailblazer and demonstration zone for building the BMC, and a supporter for improving the BMC’s role in international exchanges. With a total planned area of 20.38 square kilometers, the Canal Business District is composed of three areas, namely, the core area (first-phase), the new town financial service park and the 0101 city block. A global wealth management center and a global green financial center will be built, to serve the District’s functional positioning of wealth management, green finance, and financial technology, and meet the requirements of technological innovation and development.

On February 14, 15 pairs of sister cities (provinces/states) of China and Mexico had their landmark buildings lit up with the colors of the two countries’ national flags to celebrate the friendship between Chinese and Mexican people over half a century and send good wishes for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. The event was co-sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the Embassy of Mexico in Beijing. It is the first time that Chinese and foreign sister cities have jointly celebrated the anniversary of diplomatic relations with lighting ceremonies. The event was reported widely by Xinhua News Agency, China Global Television Network (CGTN), and China Daily. Right after the event, Marcelo Ebrard, Foreign Secretary of Mexico, shared the event pictures on his personal Twitter account and extended his best wishes to the Chinese government and Chinese people.

Since the establishment of sister-city relationship in October 2009, Beijing and Mexico City have maintained close contact and engaged in fruitful cooperation in economy, trade, culture and education.