Looking back on Korea and Mexico’s 50 years of diplomatic relations, Mexican Ambassador Martha Ortiz de Rosas sees much success, but room to further fulfill their great potential.

“I think it has been a very successful 50 years of diplomatic relations. We have strengthened our cooperation in all the fields in bilateral relations since 1962 and we still have a lot potential ahead of us in all the fields,” said Ortiz de Rosas last Friday, a few days ahead of a reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

This year has been a significant one for relations. In June, President Lee Myung-bak met with Mexican President Felipe Calderon during the G20 Summit in Los Cabos, following on earlier dialogue during Korea’s hosting of the summit in 2010. Trade was among the most important issues discussed by the two state leaders.

“We are important trading partners,” said Ortiz de Rosas, noting that exports from Mexico to Korea have increased 52 percent this year from the previous one. “For us, Korea is our 6th trading partner worldwide and the third investment partner from this region, from the Asia-Pacific region. Our trade amounted to $12.4 billion last year. We have many Korean companies, big companies and small and medium companies, in Mexico, more than 1,400.”

One way of boosting that trade relationship is through a free trade agreement, a goal that has already produced two rounds of negotiations. Ortiz de Rosas said it was important for discussion on the pact to resume “as soon as possible,” likely within the year.

“Both governments believe that we need to further our relationship in the form of an economic comprehensive partnership or a free trade agreement. During the last meeting of our two presidents in Los Cabos in the framework of the G20 they talked about their commitment to try to reestablish the negotiations for an FTA in the near future. It is very important to continue.”

This anniversary year has not been all business, however, having seen various showcases of Mexican culture in Korea. Sookmyung Women’s University Museum hosted an exhibition of famous Mexican artists, including Diego Rivera and Rufino Tamayo, for two months from Jan. 31.

“It was presented for three months at Sookmyung Women’s University and it was a great success to bring 47 pieces of work of these masters of painting from Mexico and was unique for the first time in Korea,” said the ambassador.

More opportunities to sample Mexican culture here are available currently or coming in the near future. Millennium Seoul Hilton is holding a Mexican food festival through September; an exhibition on Mayan civilization opened at the start of the month at the National Museum of Korea; and in November, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies will hold a week-long celebration of the life and work of Mexican author Carlos Fuentes, who died in May.

We brought a collection of 96 pieces from a regional museum in the state of Michoacn, in Morelia, the beautiful city of Morelia, (for the Mayan exhibition) and it is symbolic because in this city we received the first migration of Koreans in 1905,” Ortiz de Rosas said.

It is hoped a greater exposure to Mexican culture will boost Korean tourism to the Latin country.

“We consider Korea a strategic area to promote tourism to our country,” Ortiz de Rosas said. “Last year we received 40,000 Koreans to Mexico, which represented an almost 50 percent increase compared to the previous year. This year in the first quarter we received already more than 15,000 Koreans, which represents also an increase in the relationship with the first quarter of last year.”

By John Power (john.power@heraldcorp.com)