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| An overseas reader showing China Today to
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Opportunities and Challenges
Your article “Trade with China, Opportunities
or Challenges?” rebuts the “China threat” theory, and disperses
doubts and worries in some Mexican's minds.
Does China's development pose a threat to Mexico?
I think the root of the doubts that many Mexicans feel when asked
this question is due to their lack of understanding of China because
of the sparse communication between these two countries. The fact
is that the development of the nation provides Mexico with both
opportunities and challenges. In recent years, China has become
a hot topic of discussion both formally and informally. The focus
is always on its economy, particularly on its influence on other
nations. The sense of being affected is all too real, as we see
the onslaught of Chinese products on our domestic markets. But
we should also be aware that China represents a tremendous market
of 1.3 billion buyers for Mexican products. China is evolving
into the world's largest importers, causing some to claim that
our world economy has entered a new era. These changes represent
the creation of more opportunities than challenges for Mexico.
With its admission into the WTO, China is expected to open its
borders wider and to reduce import tariffs. This increases opportunities
for Mexican businesses to export its products to China.
The article also looks at the weaker industries
in Mexico, including textile, leather, toy, and shoe manufacturing.
Mexicans are prompted to ponder over what measures should be taken
to save domestic manufacturing industry in a time when the label
“Made in China” is found on the majority of manufactured goods
around the globe.
The two countries have signed many protocols on
economic and trade cooperation. I would like to see some articles
addressing this issue in your magazine. I also want to know more
about contemporary Chinese art, including Chinese painters, sculptors
and photographers. In particular, I look forward to seeing a report
on the Factory 798, a ghetto of artists in Beijing.
Maria Elena Herrera
Mexico City
