China International Import Expo: Mexico selects 45 businesses to showcase culinary treasures in Shanghai

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Mexico is among the guests of honor at next month's China International Import Expo and the country has carefully selected 45 businesses to participate in the Shanghai event. Mexico's former ambassador to China says the country's agricultural bounty and delicious food traditions in particular will take center stage. CGTN's Franc Contreras has more from Mexico City.

Mexico's world-renown cuisine is made from high-quality ingredients. Mexican agriculture producers hope to share that culinary wealth in Shanghai during the China International Import Expo.

Brightly colored raspberries are high on the list of items Mexican producers would like to export to China. Chinese health inspectors say these berries meet global sanitary standards. Top-quality vegetables and tropical fruits are harvested and sold here year-round.

FRANC CONTRERAS MEXICO CITY "Mexico is also the world's top producer of so many fruits, especially avocados. Ancient indigenous civilizations first domesticated this super food some five thousand years ago."

Mexico's finest avocados are also available all year, and come from the western Mexican state of Michoacan.

ARMANDO LOPEZ ORDUNO, DIRECTOR MICHOACAN AVOCADO PRODUCERS & PACKERS ASSOCIATION "We have an agreement to bring chefs from the world's finest restaurant chains here to learn about how this fruit is produced and harvested; how it is packed and how it matures."

The import expo will also give Chinese consumers the opportunity to savor choice cuts of beef from award-winning Mexican meat packers.

PLACIDO RAMOS REYNA BEEF PRODUCTION QUALITY MANAGER "We are audited by many countries and we by far surpass their standards because of our strict compliance with those demands—not just in Mexico, but also in international markets."

From 2001 to 2007, Sergio Ley was Mexico's Ambassador to China. He was largely responsible for creating better trade relations between the two countries. Ley is now the President of Mexico's Foreign Commerce Council, Asia Pacific Office. He'll lead a delegation of Mexican businesses to the import expo in Shanghai.

SERGIO LEY MEXICAN FOREIGN COMMERCE COUNCIL "What we must do is not place import barriers on Chinese products coming to Mexico. But instead, increase our exports to China of products made in Mexico in order to have balanced trade."

For every 11 products China sends to Mexico, Mexico sends back just one to China. Both nations expect the China International Import Expo will soon open the way for more Mexican products to reach China's colossal market. FC, CGTN, Mexico City.