Mexico’s Foreign Policy in the Asia-Pacific Region in 2000-2006

Ventura begins his essay with an overview of the course Mexico’s foreign policy has taken in the Asia-Pacific region over the last 40 years, followed by an assessment of the progress achieved at governmental level in the 2000-2006 period, specifically, the tangible, broad-based achievements made during these six years with each of major countries in this dynamic region. Based in this particular period, he then analyzes the political, economic and cooperation initiatives taken by the Mexican government, which, in his opinion, represent long-term investments whose immediate fruits are difficult to quantify. After making a concerted effort to expand its diplomatic and consular network, by the year 2000, Mexico boasted 12 embassies, four consulates and a consular liaison office in the Asia-Pacific region, but while the author acknowledges that stagnating relationships with the majority of Southeast Asian countries, India, Australia and New Zealand have been successfully rekindled, he stresses that measures must be taken to strengthen and consolidate the progress made over the last 10 years. He concludes by outlining a series of proposals that could potentially bolster Mexico’s international positioning and facilitate its insertion in the world’s fastest-growing region, an objective that will require full coordination between federal and state governments and greater participation by non-governmental actors, especially members of the Mexican business community and academics.