Mexico–Romania relations

Mexico–Romania relations

Mexico
Romania

Mexico–Romania relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Romania.

History

Former Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu receiving Mexican Foreign Minister Jorge Castañeda y Álvarez de la Rosa in Bucharest, 1979.

Knowledge of Mexico in Romania goes back to the early sixteenth century when a series of manuscripts on pre-Columbian priests and cultures circulated in Romania.[1] In the seventeenth century, maize (originally a crop from Mexico) was introduced to Romania and in subsequent centuries, Romania would become one of the largest producers of the crop.[1]

The first official contact between Mexico and Romania was in April 1880 when then Prince Carol I of Romania sent a letter to Mexican President Porfirio Díaz informing him of Romania's independence from the Ottoman Empire by the Treaty of Berlin in 1878.[2] Diplomatic relations between both nations were officially established on 20 July 1935 in Paris between foreign ministers of both nations.[3] On 24 December 1941, diplomatic relations were severed by Mexico when Romania joined the axis powers during World War II.[3] It wasn't until March 1973 that diplomatic relations would be re-established between both nations. Soon afterwards, embassies were opened in both nations capitals respectively.[3] In September 1989, Mexico closed its embassy in Bucharest for financial reasons; however, the embassy was re-opened in 1995.[4]

In 1974, Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu became the first Romanian head of state to pay an official visit to Mexico.[5] During his visit, both nations signed bilateral agreements on:[6]

In 2012, approximately 10,000 Romanian citizens visited Mexico while at the same time, over 3,000 Mexican citizens visited Romania for touristic purposes.[6] In 2015, both nations celebrated the 80th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

State visits

Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta meeting with Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto in Mexico City; 2015

Presidential and Prime Ministerial visits from Romania to Mexico[5][7][8]

As of yet, no Mexican President has visited Romania.

Trade

In 1997, Mexico and the European Union (which includes Romania who joined the union in 2007) signed a free trade agreement. In 2014, two-way trade between both nations amounted to $486 million USD.[9] Mexico's main exports to Romania include: building materials, automobile parts, paper, beer and tequila. Romania's main exports to Mexico include: cylinders, circuits, automobile parts and fiber optic cables.[9]

Resident diplomatic missions

References

  1. 1 2 Beyond Politics: Cultural Connections Among Mexico, Romania and Poland
  2. ↑ Optimistic relationship between Mexico and Romania (in Spanish)
  3. 1 2 3 Relations between Mexico and Romania (in Spanish)
  4. ↑ Historical diplomatic relations between Mexico and Romania (in Spanish)
  5. 1 2 Intercambio comercial: México-Rumania (in Spanish)
  6. 1 2 Ambassador of Mexico, Augustin Gutierrez Canet: Viva Mexico!Viva Romania!
  7. ↑ Ganó México admiración, dice el presidente rumano (in Spanish)
  8. ↑ Vicente Fox Quesada held a working meeting with the president of Romania, Ion Iliescu
  9. 1 2 Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Romania (in Spanish)
  10. ↑ Embassy of Mexico in Bucharest (in English, Romanian and Spanish)
  11. ↑ Embassy of Romania in Mexico City (in Romanian and Spanish)
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