Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 16 (IANS) India and Mexico, the second largest economy in Latin America, Monday began discussions on a strategy for negotiations at the UN climate change summit at Cancun later this year.
Mexican Foreign Minister Patricia Espinosa, also chairperson of the 16th Conference of the Parties (COP 16) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), met Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh here and discussed ongoing efforts to evolve consensus at the Cancun summit Nov 29-Dec 10.

Espinosa was accompanied by Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Lourdes Aranda, Special Representative for Climate Change Luis Alfonso de Alba and other officials.

The two sides discussed proposals for sharing future innovations on curbing global warming and existing clean technologies.

India has strongly pitched for the transfer of technologies and resources as it will enable developing countries to combat climate change.

New Delhi has also consistently pushed for “a balanced and equitable” outcome of global climate change negotiations and has advocated the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities of developed and developing countries for curbing carbon emissions.

Espinosa, who arrived here Sunday on a three-day visit, also went to The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and sought views of Indian environment experts on the way ahead at the Cancun summit.

Espinosa will meet External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Tuesday and discuss a host of bilateral issues, including climate change, intensification of trade ties and UN reforms. She will also call on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

India and Mexico will celebrate the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations with a host of cultural activities this year, Vishnu Prakash, external affairs ministry spokesperson, told reporters here Monday.

He added that climate change will be among important issues discussed between the two sides during Espinosa’s talks with Indian ministers and officials.

There is also tremendous potential in agricultural cooperation and research, Prakash said, while alluding to the cooperation between the two countries during India’s Green Revolution in the 1960s.

Bilateral trade is currently estimated to be around $3 billion. Economic relations have shown a steady upswing in recent years, with Indian companies investing around $1.5 billion in diverse sectors, including IT, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and electronics.

Indian private oil companies like Reliance and Essar have been importing crude oil from Mexico, which boasts of the 6th largest production in the world.