Mexico–Romania relations

Mexico–Romania relations refers to the diplomatic relations between Mexico and Romania. Both nations are mutual members of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization.

Mexico–Romania relations

Mexico
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] During the Second French intervention in Mexico, several Romanian soldiers participated with the French army sent by Napoleon III to assist Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico.[1]

The first official contact between Mexico and Romania was in April 1880 when 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 Mexico and Romania were officially established on 20 July 1935 in Paris between foreign ministers of both nations.[3] In 1941, former Romanian King Carol II observed Mexico's Independence Day parade alongside Mexican President Manuel Ávila Camacho.[4] On 24 December 1941, diplomatic relations were severed by Mexico when Romania joined the Axis Powers during World War II.[3]

In March 1973 diplomatic relations were re-established between both nations. Soon afterward, 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.[5] In 1974, Romanian President Nicolae Ceaușescu became the first Romanian head of state to pay an official visit to Mexico.[6] Since the initial visit, there have been several high-level visits between both nations. In 2015, both nations celebrated the 80th anniversary since the establishment of diplomatic relations.[7]

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

High-level visits from Mexico to Romania[8]

High-level visits from Romania to Mexico[6][9][10]

Bilateral agreements

Both nations have signed several bilateral agreements such as an Agreement on Scientific and Technical Cooperation (1974); Agreement on Cinematographic and Touristic Cooperation (1974); Agreement on Economic, Industrial, Farming and Environmental Cooperation (1974); Agreement on the Peaceful use of Nuclear Energy (1974); Agreement on Mining and Energy Cooperation (1974); Agreement on Oil and Petrochemical Cooperation (1974); Agreement on Cultural, Youth and Sports Cooperation (1999) and an Agreement on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and Tax Evasion (2001).[11][12]

Trade

In 1997, Mexico and the European Union (which includes Romania who joined the union in 2007) signed a free trade agreement. In 2018, two-way trade between both nations amounted to US$632 million.[13] 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. Mexican multinational companies Cemex and Grupo Alfa operate in Romania.[14][15]

Resident diplomatic missions

References
  1. Beyond Politics: Cultural Connections Among Mexico, Romania, and Poland
  2. Optimistic relationship between Mexico and Romania (in Spanish)
  3. Relations between Mexico and Romania (in Spanish)
  4. https://www.britishpathe.com/video/mexican-independence-day-1/
  5. Historical diplomatic relations between Mexico and Romania (in Spanish)
  6. Intercambio comercial: México-Rumania (in Spanish)
  7. 80 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Romania
  8. Relaţii politice (in Romanian)
  9. Ganó México admiración, dice el presidente rumano (in Spanish)
  10. Vicente Fox Quesada held a working meeting with the president of Romania, Ion Iliescu
  11. Intercambio Comercial México-Rumania (in Spanish)
  12. Relaciones México-Rumania (in Spanish)
  13. "Mexican Ministry of the Economy: Romania (in Spanish)". Archived from the original on 2016-04-25. Retrieved 2018-03-15.
  14. Readymix Romania
  15. Sigma compra por completo a Caroli, empresa rumana (in Spanish)
  16. Embassy of Mexico in Bucharest
  17. Embassy of Romania in Mexico City
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