A Jaecoo vehicle on display at a launch event in February near Mexico City. (Jaecoo México/Instagram)
Another Chinese carmaker has announced its plans to build a production facility in Mexico this year, soon after statements confirming that electric vehicle manufacturer BYD will build a plant in the country.
Jaecoo, owned by Chery Automobile Company, is looking at Durango and México state as potential locations for a new plant, according to an interview published by Milenio newspaper with Shawn Xu, Vice President International of Chery and CEO of Jaecoo International. He said the company seeks to export the cars produced in Mexico to other parts of the continent.
“Once installed, we will manufacture our vehicles and move them within the [domestic] market, and then possibly take them to other parts of the continent,” Xu said, adding that the brand “is here to stay.”
Chery is a car manufacturer founded in 1997 and headquartered in Wuhu, China. It entered the Mexican market in 2022 with the Chirey brand, followed by the Omoda brand in 2023.
This year, the company launched the Jaecoo brand, which includes the compact SUV Jaecoo 7 model. By Q2 or Q3 2024, it plans to launch a bigger SUV — the Jaecoo 8 — as the company is “confident” that the Mexican market will respond positively to its products.
“We have reports that the SUV market grew 10.8% in 2023 [in Mexico], which gives us an idea of what we can achieve,” Xu said.
Mexican actor and singer Alfonso Herrera has taken on the brand ambassador role of “Mr. Jaecoo.” (Jaecoo.mx)
The company also plans to launch the Jaecoo 7 PHEV model, which, along with the Jaecoo 8, has a classic executive design which is different from that offered by Chery and Omoda.
Sales of Chinese cars in Mexico have been on an upward trend. In 2023, sales were up 63%, reaching a new record of over 129,000 Chinese units sold.
As for sales expectations, Gabriel Ríos, vice president of Jaecoo Mexico, told the newspaper Milenio that the company expects to sell between 5,000 and 8,000 units of the Jaecoo 7 model in 2024.
Miguel Mercado, head of after-sales at Jaecoo Mexico, explained that parts and logistics will be distributed in collaboration with logistics company DHL.
“In alliance with [DHL], we have more than 15,000 parts stored, in addition to a new warehouse of more than 6,000 square meters and with more than seven months of sales in inventory,” Mercado said.
Xu, in an interview with the newspaper Expansión, stated that Chery’s plan is to close the year with 40 total dealerships shared with the Omoda brand. This distribution strategy will enable Jaecoo to leverage Omoda’s already well-established infrastructure, allowing the brand to reach a larger pool of consumers.
As part of its new brand positioning strategy, the company has chosen Alfonso Herrera as its brand ambassador with the title “Mr. Jaecoo.” The Mexican actor and singer will appear in advertisements and will play a key role in the brand’s communication efforts.
Visitors gather at the Temple of Kukulcán in Chichén Itzá to witness the phenomenon of the spring equinox in 2023. (Martín Zetina/Cuarotscuro.com)
The arrival of the spring equinox is a sight to behold at many archaeological sites in Mexico, including Chichén Itzá, where thousands are expected to gather to observe the event.
Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) said last week that 15,000-20,000 people are expected to visit the site in the state of Yucatán on March 20 and 21 to see what appears to be Kukulcán — a serpent deity of Maya mythology — slowly slithering its way down the northwest facade of the iconic El Castillo pyramid, aka the Temple of Kukulcán.
As the phenomenon continues for approximately 45 minutes, seven inverted isosceles triangles of shadow move around the pyramid until finally the light illuminates only the serpent’s feathered head.
Symbolically, the figure unites heaven, Earth and the underworld, as well as day and night. The ancient Maya — who were accomplished astronomers — believed that when Kukulcán appeared, it was to bless the crops and grant good health to worshipers.
Chichén Itzá, where a new Maya museum just opened, is just one of the many pre-Columbian sites in Mexico expected to receive an influx of visitors for the spring equinox, which will take place at 9:06 p.m. Mexican Central Time on March 19 — the moment when the sun is directly over the equator, and when night and day around the world are virtually the same length.
One site in Yucatán that won’t be open is Dzibilchaltún, where the sunrise creates striking images at the Temple of the Seven Dolls. However, the site has been closed since Jan. 30 for construction of a museum and visitor center, INAH reminded the public last week.
Dzibilchaltún, another popular equinox-viewing site in Yucatán, is closed this year. (Mauricio Marat/INAH)
INAH suggested that people visit other pre-Columbian sites that will be open to visitors in the state, such as Kabah, Oxkintok, Aké, Uxmal and Labná, in addition to Chichén Itzá.
Other popular sites for spring equinox observation include Teotihuacán in México state; Cholula in Puebla; Monte Albán in Oaxaca; and Cuicuilco, Templo Mayor and Cerro de la Estrella (Mountain of the Star) in Mexico City.
At Oxkintok, the light of the afternoon sun passes through a portal and creates a halo on the floor precisely in the middle of an arc — a solar calibrator just as Maya astronomers/priests designed it to indicate the changing of the seasons.
Oxkintok, one of the oldest sites of the Puuc region, was inhabited from the Preclassic period (300 B.C. – A.D. 250) through the Late Postclassic (A.D. 1250-1500), reaching its principal importance between A.D. 475 and 859.
Students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College march at the funeral of a classmate who was shot by police in Chilpancingo last week. (Dassaev Téllez Adame/Cuartoscuro.com)
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Monday that a student who authorities say was killed by state police in Guerrero last week “did not shoot,” and therefore “there was an abuse of authority.”
“The file is already in the hands of the [federal] Attorney General’s Office [FGR], and we are not going to allow any interference [or] temptation to defend those responsible,” AMLO stated at his morning press conference, or mañanera, at the National Palace.
Last Thursday around 9:30 p.m., a 23-year-old student at the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers’ College in Tixtla, Guerrero, was reportedly shot by police in the state capital of Chilpancingo at a checkpoint attempting to find stolen cars.
Yanqui Khotan Gómez Peralta was one of two students in a pickup truck heading toward Chilpancingo that was reported as stolen, according to a statement from the Guerrero Ministry of Public Security (SSP). A third person in the vehicle, allegedly a Nissan Frontier, reportedly had exited before the checkpoint.
The statement also said that police came under fire when they approached the truck.
According to the online newspaper Sin Embargo, which cited a medical report, the deceased student “had a bullet in the head, in the manner of execution.”
Parents of the Ayotzinapa 43 protest outside the Mexican Senate in February. (Galo Cañas/Cuartoscuro)
The incident occurred one day after a protest by Ayotzinapa students at Mexico City’s National Palace, in which a Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) pickup truck was used as a battering ram. The protest was related to the 2014 disappearance and presumed murder of 43 male students who were studying at Ayotzinapa to become teachers.
Gómez reportedly participated in pilgrimages to Mexico City, where students from the Ayotzinapa school and their supporters have staged protests.
Guerrero government officials asserted last week that there was no concerted effort on the part of state police to go after students from the Ayotzinapa school.
“I am very, very sorry for what happened” in this incident, López Obrador said Monday morning. “An investigation has already been launched to punish those responsible and I send my condolences to family and friends. We are not going to allow impunity. Those responsible are going to be punished.”
He also mentioned that police officers have been detained in relation to the incident.
Meanwhile, the National Front for Rural Normalist Graduates (FNENR) said the state police “tried to disappear the body and the injured colleague [Osiel Faustino Jimón Dircio], because they did not wait” for the Forensic Medical Service (SEMEFO) to arrive at the scene.
Moreover, the group claimed, “the truck was transferred with everything and [the dead] body to the corralón,” or police impound lot.
Additionally, FNENR accused the state government of defaming and criminalizing the deceased “by telling the media that they were [carrying] drugs and weapons.”
India and Mexico share many similarities in terms of culture, traditions, food, art and spirituality. (Canva)
When I relocated from Miami to Mexico, I was shocked at how little I knew about the culture, from religion to art to medicine.
To make sense of it all, I started inevitably comparing it to other countries. What are the quintessential elements of Mexican culture?
Both Mexican and Indian art share visual narrative, expressive figuration, attention to detail, and vivid color. (Unsplash)
Bright art and patterned textiles
Colorful cuisine that uses a variety of chiles and spices
A deep commitment to family and tradition
Ancient gods and goddesses weaved into monotheistic religion
Ancient medicinal practices with an emphasis on natural remedies
A distinct social class system
All of which sounds like…India!
Pankaj Sharma, India’s Ambassador to Mexico, said in an interview with Mexico News Daily that “India and Mexico are two ancient civilizations that are proud of their history, culture and traditions.”
To determine the similarities between these age-old cultures, I spoke with an artist, a yoga instructor, a chef, a mushroom expert and a news media entrepreneur, MND’s very own Tamanna Bembenek.
Let’s start with art
Jane Zweiger, a visual artist from New York, has studied and exhibited all over the world. Before moving to Mexico a year and a half ago to live and paint, she spent a month with master artisans in India to study the art of Pattachitra painting.
“Both Mexican and Indian art share visual narrative, expressive figuration, attention to detail and vivid color,” Jane says, adding that “Mexican ex-voto paintings are spiritual and religious in nature, often depicting miracles and saints. Indian Pattachitra paintings depict spiritual images of multiple deities, as well as mythological beings and folklore.”
Jane’s paintings are bright, bold and symbolic, so it’s no surprise that she’s been heavily “influenced by the vibrant colors of Mexican art.” The abundance of folk art produced in both countries celebrates storytelling in a way that is clearly “spiritual but also grounded in the everyday”.
What is the “everyday” grounded in, exactly?
The role of community
According to Tamanna, it’s grounded in community.
Tamanna, who was born in India, gave me a fascinating masterclass on bold colors, spicy food, spirituality and tradition, showing me that the Mexican and Indian cultures are far more alike than they are different.
Tamanna sees a lot in Mexico that reminds her of home. Witnessing people of all ages interacting together in parks and public squares, dancing, singing and talking, brings her back to her childhood in India. The central role of relationships weaves the two cultures together and it’s common to see family and friends “spending time together, eating, socializing, [and] celebrating small to large events.”
A reverence for elders is prevalent in Mexico, as it is in India. For her, it’s comforting to watch youth speak and act respectfully towards the elderly, regardless of whether they are a member of the family, friends of the family or complete strangers.
The “everyday” is also grounded in aesthetics.
Surrounded by flora and fungi
Both Tamanna and Yosef Zur, an Ashtanga teacher based in Tulum, mentioned plants as a visual theme. In countries like the United States and Canada, where houseplants can be costly, it’s not as common to fill your home with flowers and trees. In Mexico and India, however, they’re everywhere.
“Banana trees, papaya trees, containers full of plants all around the house, on roofs…it doesn’t matter if you’re poor, you still have plants!” Yosef smiles as he describes this “desire to bring beauty to the community” as one of the common links between Mexican and Indian culture.
Plant medicine also plays a deep role in Mexican and Indian societies. India has been reliant on Ayurveda to prevent and treat various medical ailments for thousands of years, using herbs such as turmeric, cumin and triphala. In Mexico, herbs like achiote, cinnamon and oregano are often used in addition to, or in lieu of, Western medical treatments. According to Biodiversidad Mexicana, 80% of Mexico’s population uses herbs and plants as medicine and, like India, has integrated their use into its modern health system.
In the same vein, India and Mexico share the perfect microclimate and biodiversity to cultivate another medicinal staple: mushrooms. Dennis Walker, a Mexico-based mycologist and owner of Mycopreneur, states that both countries are home to “numerous identical psychoactive and medicinal mushroom species. An example of this includes Ganoderma lucidum – more popularly known as Reishi.”
And because “native tribes traditionally placed greater emphasis on oral transmission of sacred knowledge rather than written documentation,” there is still plenty to discover.
A devotion to flavor
Herbs and spices aren’t used only for treating ailments, as we know quite well living in Mexico.
Food, from its color to its communal significance, bridges an ocean’s gap between Mexico and India. Alberto Harwy, head chef of Taller Xilotl in Mexico City, says “To speak about these two cultures is to speak about strength. Both cultures are intense, ancient and full of color and smells.”
He compares mole to curry, a dish that is so widely respected in each country that it is imbibed with almost a religious reverence. Alberto and his Indian culinary partner Anshul also mention the ubiquitous presence of street food, a concept that is fundamental to city life in both countries.
Indian food has similarities with Mexican food because of the use of some ingredients, such as chili, spices and herbs. (Unsplash)
Alberto mentions that the chile de árbol is a staple ingredient in both cuisines, along with spices like cumin, coriander, cloves and cinnamon. To make all these tasty dishes, Mexican and Indian cooks rely heavily on clay cookware, wooden spatulas, and mortar and pestles to grind spices and make sauces.
Moreover, food plays a significant role in the preservation of ancient traditions, specifically altars. Colorful altars can be found everywhere, from houses to street corners, and often contain edible offerings for deceased loved ones and the gods.
And to God(s)?
Both Mexico and India are known for syncretism, the incorporation of multiple religions into one. While Mexico is a largely monotheistic Catholic nation since the arrival of the Spanish in the 1500s, locals managed to weave in Indigenous rituals that honor their multiple pre-Columbian gods. Every fall, Mexico itself turns into a colorful altar of marigolds in celebration of Day of the Dead.
India is a melting pot of many religions, including Hinduism and Sikhism. Hinduism is a polytheistic belief system of sorts — there are many deities which are manifestations of one god Brahman — and Sikhism is a syncretistic blend of Hinduism and Muslim worshiping one god. Still, Diwali is a country-wide celebration of joy, light and the goddess Lakshmi, characterized for its abundance of — you’ll never guess — marigolds.
All of this feels a little mystical, doesn’t it?
Although with different beliefs, the people of India and Mexico share spirituality. (Unsplash)
There is an energy in Mexico, just like there is an energy in India, that is strong and tangible. How does it feel to visit Chichén Itzá? Varanasi? Powerful, right? These are locations deemed sacred by Indigenous cultures for their spiritual energy, and millions of visitors are lured to discover their intrigue every year.
So what’s the ultimate thread that ties together India and Mexico? You could answer this question in a variety of ways. Culture, tradition, food, art, color, spirituality, family.
If you ask my opinion, though, I’d say, it’s magic.
This article is part of Mexico News Daily’s “India in Focus” series. Read the other articles from the series here.
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
Tourists enjoy a Sunday walk on Paseo de la Reforma in Mexico City. (Moisés Pablo/Cuartoscuro.com)
Government data show Mexico’s tourism industry continues to rebound from COVID-19 pandemic levels, with visits from international travelers in January up 3.6% over the same month a year ago.
Although the number of international visitors was down compared to December — traditionally the most popular month to visit Mexico — the year-on-year increase continues last year’s trend in which each month surpassed the number of arrivals from the year before.
The national statistics agency INEGI reported that 3.64 million international tourists entered the country last month, up slightly from January 2023 when 3.51 million foreign visitors came to Mexico. These same international visitors spent US $2.94 billion during their stay, 4.6% better than what foreign tourists spent a year ago — $2.81 billion.
Overall arrivals from abroad, including Mexican citizens, also rose year-on-year in January. INEGI reported 6.48 million arrivals in January 2023 and 6.78 million in January this year, an increase of 4.6%.
The overall hike in arrivals was also spurred by a surge in Mexicans taking international flights or crossing the border. More than 4.95 million Mexican residents traveled abroad in January, up 20.3% over January 2023 (4.1 million). These numbers include those who simply crossed the border for a day-visit.
As for Mexican tourists (those who cross the border and spent at least one night outside the country), 1.59 million traveled abroad in January of this year as compared to 1.33 million last January.
Millions visit the Basilica of Guadalupe in Mexico City for the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe in December. (Gobierno CDMX/Cuartoscuro.com)
When compared to December figures (7.9 million total arrivals), tourism in January saw a slight decline but that is because the year-end holidays and the Day of the Virgin of Guadalupe on Dec. 12 attract so many visitors.
February — though with an extra day this year — normally sees a decline in tourism compared to January, while March, because of spring break when U.S. students flock to Mexican beaches, is usually the third-best month for tourism, behind December and January.
China Southern airplanes at the airline's headquarters in Guangzhou, China. (Tianlei Wu/Unsplash)
China’s largest airline is preparing to launch its first nonstop service to Mexico City, part of a broader strategy to capitalize on the growing demand for travel and trade between China and Latin American countries.
China Southern Airlines, headquartered in Guangzhou, expects the first flight to the Mexican capital to depart on April 17, an airline spokesman said. From April 22 through Oct. 26, there will be two flights per week — originating in Shenzhen, in southern China — according to media reports in China.
The 16-hour, 14,147-kilometer (8,790 miles) Shenzhen-Mexico City flight will be among the longest regular routes in the world.The announcement highlights China’s desire to enhance connectivity with Mexico, viewed as a gateway to the Americas. The return leg of the flight will have a stopover in Tijuana.
The inauguration of this new route, despite the logistical difficulties — Mexico City’s altitude makes long-distance flight problematic as fully-loaded planes can’t draw as much power to take off — is a signal of the importance Mexico holds for China’s economy.
China’s direct investment in Mexico reached US $587 million in 2022, the highest on record, according to Mexico’s Economy Ministry (SE). Two-way trade is up 38% since 2019, representing a strong rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic, as China has been sending increasing quantities of goods to Mexico.
A flight takes off from Shenzhen, China. (Unsplash)
The new Shenzhen-Mexico City flight will be a further benefit as Chinese companies have been seeking ways to sidestep Washington while nearshoring operations to Mexico and gaining access to the world’s biggest economy.
Meanwhile, direct flights between China and the U.S. shrunk to 100 per week — down from 340 per week — since the pandemic.
The new route comes soon on the heels of Xi Jinping’s November statement that China would look to strengthen ties with receptive trade partners, and the first in-person meeting between Xi and President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the APEC summit. China’s president specifically called for increased trade with Mexico in areas such as finance, electric vehicles and other emerging industries.
Mexico’s tourism sector is also likely to benefit from the new route and other potential expansions, such as the reactivation of the Beijing-Tijuana route via Hainan Airlines. Mexican government data indicate that the number of Chinese visitors to Mexico is approaching pre-pandemic levels, with 161,300 arrivals in 2023.
Heavy rain is forecast for most of the Mexican Caribbean early this week. (Arturo Pérez Alfonso/Cuartoscuro)
As a heat wave continues in Mexico City and other parts of the country, rainfall is in the forecast in some states of southern Mexico.
Due to cold front 39, the Yucatán Peninsula and Mexican Caribbean will see heavy rains in the states of Campeche, Chiapas, Yucatán, Oaxaca, Quintana Roo, Tabasco and Veracruz. Pockets of rain are expected in Puebla, and isolated showers are also forecast in Baja California Sur, Coahuila, Durango, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas and Zacatecas.
El sistema frontal número 39 y su masa de aire #Frío ocasionarán #Lluvias muy fuertes, refrescamiento de las #Temperaturas y #EventoDeNorte de fuerte a muy fuerte, entre otros efectos.
The cold front will also bring gusts of wind between 60 and 80 kilometers per hour along the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with waves 2 to 3 meters high in the southern Gulf of Tehuantepec. Wind gusts and dust devils are also expected in the northern states of Chihuahua, Coahuila and Durango.
Meanwhile, scorching temperatures will continue in central and southern Mexico.
A yellow heat alert has been activated in Mexico City and the Valley of México as temperatures are expected to reach between 28 and 30 degrees Celsius (82 to 86 Fahrenheit) on Monday. The few boroughs not affected by the alert are those west of Mexico City, including Cuajimalpa de Morelos, Magdalena Contreras and Milpa Alta.
The states of Guerrero, Michoacán and southwest Morelos will see high temperatures of 40 to 45 degrees Celsius on Monday.
The coasts of Chiapas, Colima, Jalisco and Nayarit will see highs of 35 to 40 degrees Celsius (95 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit) while Campeche, southwest México state, Guanajuato, Oaxaca, southwest Puebla, Quintana Roo, Sinaloa, Tabasco and Yucatán are expecting temperatures of 30 to 35 degrees Celsius (86 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit).
Mexico and India have a long history, with official bilateral relations stretching back 70 years. (MND)
Almost three-quarters of a century ago, Mexico became the first Latin American country to establish diplomatic relations with India after the South Asian nation obtained independence from the British in 1947.
Since the commencement of formal relations in 1950, “the trajectory of our all-round bilateral ties has shown growing intensity,” Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said during a joint press conference in 2016 with Enrique Peña Nieto, Mexico’s president at the time.
Raquel Buenrostro, Mexico’s economy minister, with India’s prime minister at the 2023 G20 meeting in New Delhi. (Cortesía/Cuartoscuro)
While the formal Mexico-India relationship was established 74 years ago, the connection between the two lands and their peoples goes back centuries.
In this article — the first in our “Global Mexico: India in Focus” series — I’ll take a look at how the relations between the two countries have changed over time, and also consider the state of bilateral affairs between Mexico and India today.
Trade and cultural ties in colonial times
Between the mid-1500s and the early 19th century, a sea trade route known as the Manilla Galleon operated between Manila, Philippines, and Acapulco, Mexico.
The establishment of the northern Pacific route allowed a range of Indian products to reach Mexico, which, during the period, was under Spanish control and called the Viceroyalty of New Spain. They included textiles, cinnamon and pepper as well as mango, tamarind and coconut trees.
The Manilla Galleon trade route. (Wikimedia Commons)
Silver, chiles, tobacco and chocolate were among the goods shipped along this route from New Spain to Asian countries including India.
There was also an exchange of people between Asia and the Americas in this period, and many of those who traveled east across the Pacific Ocean were “Indian women who were placed in wealthy families and convents in Mexico City, Puebla and other affluent cities of New Spain,” according to Mexico’s Embassy in India.
One of these immigrants, according to legend, was a woman baptized in Mexico as Catarina de San Juan. Better known today as “La China Poblana” — at least partly because she married the Chinese servant of a priest in Puebla — Catarina de San Juan is credited by many with inspiring Mexico’s national dress, also called a China Poblana, due to the traditional Indian clothes she wore, including a garment called a langa voni.
Mirra — as was her original name — was “born around 1606 in India during the Mughal dynasty,” according to a journal article published by Colorado State University.
“She grew up amidst royalty until her parents, fleeing a ‘Turkish’ invasion, left for a safer city, according to one of her biographers, the Jesuit Alonso Ramos. One day when she and her younger brother were playing on the beach, ruthless Portuguese pirates abducted her,” the article continues.
She was taken to New Spain as a slave but ended up living much of her life in a convent in Puebla.
“Poblanas,” Carl Nebel, 1840. (Casa de México)
“She adopted the Catholic faith with such fervor that she became widely known for her religious visions and ecstasies,” according to Mexico’s Embassy in India. “The fact that she had accepted Catholicism so enthusiastically despite being born into another religion made her an exemplary case.”
Another fascinating story of interaction between Mexicans and Indians is one that played out in the United States in the early 20th century.
A significant number of Mexican women married Indian Sikhs, which resulted in the emergence of many Punjabi-Mexican enclaves in states like California, Texas and Arizona.
“The restrictive migration policies of the U.S. pushed solidarity between the Indian and Mexican migrants that had settled in California and Texas and mainly worked in the agricultural fields,” according to Mexico’s Embassy in Delhi.
“Recently, scholars … [have been] studying the rise and decline of a Punjabi-Mexican community that was composed of around 400 marriages, mostly Mexican women with Sikh men.”
1950 to the 2020s: A brief history of the modern Mexico-India relationship
Three years before bilateral diplomatic relations were established, Mexico recognized India’s independence, becoming the first Latin American nation to do so.
Prime Minister Nehru welcomes Mexican president López Mateos to India on Oct. 10, 1962. Octavio Paz, who served as Mexico’s ambassador to India, is in the center. (India In Mexico Embassy of India, Mexico City/Facebook)
In 1961, India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, visited Mexico.
“The similarities between India and Mexico are many, Mr. Prime Minister,” Mexican president Adolfo López Mateos said in a welcome address.
“Listing them would be long-winded, but there is one that unites us in such a way in present times that we cannot not mention it: the persevering effort of India and Mexico in the struggle for peace,” he said.
López Mateos traveled to India in 1962, becoming the first Mexican president to visit the nation. The bilateral relationship developed further with the dispatch the same year of Octavio Paz to New Delhi to serve as Mexico’s ambassador to India. Mexicans’ knowledge of India also developed as a result of the time Paz spent in India. The winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature wrote books about the country while he was there, including the non-fiction work In Light of India.
“Waves of heat; huge grey and red buildings, a Victorian London growing among palm trees and banyans like a recurrent nightmare, leprous walls, wide and beautiful avenues, huge unfamiliar trees, stinking alleyways, torrents of cars, people coming and going, skeletal cows with no owners, beggars, creaking carts drawn by enervated oxen, rivers of bicycles,” Paz wrote in a lyrical description of Bombay, now called Mumbai.
According to India’s Embassy in Mexico, the bilateral relationship with Mexico over the past seven decades “has been characterized by warmth, friendship and commonality of views on a wide range of issues.”
The governor of Nuevo León, Samuel García, on a 2023 business visit to India, where he held meetings with representatives of companies in the electromobility hub and information technologies sectors. (Cuartoscuro)
“During the Cold War years, Mexico and India worked together closely as members of the UN, G-77, G-15 and G-6 (nuclear disarmament), both actively championing the interests of developing countries such as in the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations.”
Over the years, the two countries have reached agreements in a range of areas including science and technology, cultural cooperation, tourism, agriculture, academic cooperation, human rights, renewable energy and water management. They have also cooperated on major global issues such as nuclear disarmament and climate change.
In 2007, Mexico and India entered into a “privileged partnership,” while Prime Minister Modi and former president Peña Nieto committed in 2016 to elevate bilateral relations even further to the status of “strategic partnership,” an objective that has not yet been reached but could be soon.
“We are now looking to move beyond a buyer-seller relationship and into a long-term partnership,” Modi said during his 2016 press conference with Peña Nieto.
“Information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, and automotive industries are among key growth areas of our commercial linkages. But, there is potential to expand our commercial and investment [partnership], and science and technology partnership in new areas,” he said.
At the opening of a Mexican consulate in Mumbai last year, then foreign affairs minister Marcelo Ebrard said that the relationship between Mexico and India was closer than ever “for several reasons,” including “geopolitical stress and similarities in our positions in the world,” investment flows between the two countries and “the will” of President López Obrador and Prime Minister Modi to strengthen ties.
The opening of the Mexican consulate in Mumbai was attended by Marcelo Ebrard, center, who was Mexico’s foreign affairs minister at the time. (SRE)
India — the world’s most populous country and fifth largest economy — was Mexico’s 10th largest trade partner in 2022, with two-way trade between the two countries valued at US $11.4 billion, according to the national statistics agency INEGI. The figure represents an increase of almost 13% compared to the previous year.
At US $7.54 billion, the value of India’s exports to Mexico was almost double the value of Mexico’s exports to India, which generated revenue of US $3.86 billion in 2022.
India’s exports to Mexico include motor vehicles (the top export in 2022), auto parts, aluminum, chemical products, rubber tires and clothes. Mexico’s exports to India include gold (No. 1 in 2022), cell phones, data processing machines, oil, auto parts and chemicals.
Another important aspect of the modern-day bilateral relationship is cultural exchange. In India, Mexico’s embassy promotes Mexican art and culture in a range of different ways, including in museum exhibitions and art festivals.
“Our focus goes on to include identification of cultural ties and common social experiences that bind Mexico and India together and their articulation through literature, visual and performative arts,” the embassy says.
Ambassador Pankaj Sharma with President Andrés Manuel López Obrador in 2022. (Cuartoscuro)
“The Embassy of Mexico believes that culture is a powerful tool for reinforcing and affirming the bilateral ties and the threads that weave our countries and its people together.”
In Mexico, a key disseminator of Indian culture is the Gurudev Tagore Indian Cultural Center in Mexico City. Regular classes for yoga, Indian classical and Bollywood dances, sitar, tabla, Hindi, Sanskrit and Indian cooking classes are held at the center, according to the Indian Embassy.
The presence of many Indian companies in Mexico helps to foster people-to-people links between Mexicans and Indians, around 8,000 of whom live permanently in Mexico, according to the embassy.
The three strongest performing areas for Indian investments in Mexico are information technology, pharmaceuticals and the automotive sector, the embassy says. A number of major Indian companies in those sectors, and others, operate here.
Meanwhile, cinema chain Cinépolis and bakery company Grupo Bimbo are among the Mexican companies that have invested in India.
The future looks bright for relations between Mexico and India, in large part due to the commitment on both sides to continue to strengthen bilateral ties. Asked in a recent interview what the Indian Embassy’s goals in Mexico are for 2024, Ambassador Pankaj Sharma mentioned the aim of elevating the relationship with Mexico to strategic partnership status.
“This will be possible with careful steps addressing all aspects of the bilateral relationship,” he said.
“Both countries are focused on deepening and broadening our engagement and removing bottlenecks,” Sharma remarked.
Guadalajara is a vibrant city that offers a massive array of gastronomic and cultural gems. We sent Bethany Platanella to track down the best parts. (Unsplash)
Guadalajara. It’s fun to say and to see. My recent trip to Jalisco’s buzzing capital was influenced by multiple factors: friends from Mexico suggested it would make a great weekend trip, it was an easy flight from Mexico City, it’s the birthplace of mariachi music, and…tequila.
SOLD.
Guadalajara, for the weekend warrior, is a city of two things: surprises and simplicity. Here is where you swap the urban hustle for an hours-long, boozy lunch on a breezy terrace. It’s a place for strolling through elegant residential zones and suddenly stumbling upon a cozy cafe or a sexy wine bar.
Eat, drink, and be merry while your neighbors, mostly tourists from Mexico, proudly sing along in El Parián. (Bethany Platanella)
In fact, I wouldn’t even call it a “city”, despite its ranking as one of the top five largest in Mexico. I’d call it a tightly-knit collection of towns, each with distinct style and personality.
If you’re lucky enough to have a long weekend to spare and feeling the itch to explore, here are some ideas of how to spend a juicy getaway in Guadalajara.
Friday
Arrive early and drop your bags at your hotel in either colonia Americana or Lafayette. Beeline to your first hearty Tapatío breakfast of pan dulce, chilaquiles, fresh juice, and Masala chai tea on the leafy patio at La Cafeteria. If there is a line for a table, enjoy a complimentary coffee while you wait.
With your belly full, make your way on foot or by car to the beating heart of the city, the densely-populated and ever-lively historic center. Dominated by the Guadalajara Cathedral, you can enjoy various angles of its baroque, neoclassical, and Gothic facade from each of the surrounding plazas.
Before becoming a contemporary art museum, Hospicio Cabañas was one of the largest and oldest orphanages in the Americas. Inside, you can find frescoes by Mexican muralist José Clemente Orozco. (Unsplash)
Take your time to walk around and visit:
Palacio del Gobierno
Rodonda of the Jaliscienses Ilustres
Plaza de la Liberación
Teatro Degollado
Plaza de Armas (especially if a carousel ride is on your to-do list)
A visit to Hospicio Cabañas is an ideal way to take shelter from the blazing afternoon sun. The 19th century Neoclassical orphanage-turned-HQ for the War of Independence is now a sprawling complex of national and international exhibitions and events. Come here for the art, the architecture, and the free 30-minute tour of José Clemente Orozco’s famous frescoes.
That’s a lot of sightseeing. You deserve a drink and a snack.
Cantina la Fuente is a no-frills, locals-only watering hole that’s been in operation since 1921. Its towering ceilings reverberate the nonstop laughter, chatter, and live music that fill the space. When in Jalisco, one must drink tequila, and within the yellow walls of this historic cantina an ideal spot to indulge in your first sip along with a bag of crispy potato chips and a taco or two.
Now is a good time to head back to your hotel to rest and freshen up for dinner. Before you do, take a peek in Limoncello, an artisan gallery in Colonia Americana with affordable and very beautiful Mexican-stye home items.
Tonight, dine on vegan tacos at La Flaca’s intimate deck, or try Navaja, a new Mediterranean-esque establishment across the street.
Saturday
These figures represent for the artist the daily life of Mexicans the way he sees them: humble, kind, loving, cheerful and hard working. (Talleres Rodo Padilla/Instagram)
Start your day with a traditional breakfast at the bustling Mercado Libertad before taking a 30-peso metro ride on the pink line to La Revolución. Walk through the quiet neighborhood until you reach Calle Independencia in the center of Tlaquepaque. It’s colorful and vibrant and home to many artisan shops, art galleries, boutique cafes, and trendy restaurants. Pop into the Rodo Padilla Gallery for fun sculptures of fat people riding miniature bikes and Augustín Parra’s golden display of religious relics that have graced St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City.
When 3:30 p.m. rolls around, park yourself at any of the restaurants in El Parián that surround its central gazebo flanked by papel picada.If they haven’t started already, an energetic mariachi band will perform from this stage. Eat, drink, and be merry while your neighbors, mostly tourists from Mexico, proudly sing along.
For dinner, relax in the garden at El Abajeño for something traditional or make a reservation at Casa Luna for something a touch more fancy.
The sun should be setting at this point. Back in colonia Americana is Avenida Chapultepec, flush with bars and nightclubs. If you prefer a low-key nightcap? Almacén de Botellas is a lively establishment with outside tables and organic wine.
*Alternatively, you could spend Saturday in Tequila by way of the Jose Cuervo Express. Read about my experience. In this case, I would highly suggest extending your trip to Guadalajara by one day.
Sunday
Jalisco is the the home of many of Mexico’s classic dishes, including the irresistible birria. (Unsplash)
Wake up at your leisure. Drive to colonia Tonalá, where somewhere between 3,500 and 4,000 vendors set up shop selling everything under the sun. Start at Plaza de Tonalá and wander, trying the street food and drink that Jalisco is known for:
Un tejuino – a chilled drink made of fermented corn masa, brown sugar, and lime
Una jericalla – a type of flan
Birria – a slow cooked goat stew, sometimes made with beef instead. Often eaten with tortillas.
Tortas ahogadas – a chopped meat sandwich drowning in chile de árbol sauce
Walk it off with a visit to the Bernabe Gallery’s incredible collection of handcrafted ceramics, a steadfast tradition held within the family for over 200 years. If you’re lucky, one of the 10 brothers who now run the place will invite you on a tour of the workshop. The Bernabe family is extremely well-known for their role in Mexican craftsmanship and photos of famous people from all over the world (including U.S. President Obama) can be found on the walls.
When you’ve had enough shopping, return to your home base to pack and prepare for your evening flight. Leave time to visit Avenida Chapultepec, where local artists gather on Sundays to showcase their work. Meander through lovely Lafayette, a peaceful colonia adjacent to Americana and cascading with flowers, en route to La Tequila on Avenida Mexicana for a farewell lunch.
The Bernabé family has dedicated several generations (more than 200 years of tradition) to the creation of petatillo pottery. (Bethany Platanella)]
La Tequila has been a staple in Guadalajara since the mid-90’s and currently boasts three locations. The sleek architecture weaves in regional design elements of stone and clay. Traditional Mexican dishes grace the menu, some with a modern-day twist like the vegan birria made with mushrooms that was to-die-for.
Your cheerful server will offer you a tequila flight, and my advice is to take it. It’s cheap, it’s fun, it’s educational — and come on, can you think of a more appropriate way to say hasta luego to Guadalajara?
Need hotel options? Here are some popular choices to consider:
Hotel Demetria, a design-forward boutique with a rooftop pool and sweeping city views
Quinta Real Guadalajara, a luxurious pink-stone villa covered in ivy and full of antique furniture in colonia Vallarta Norte
Bethany Platanella is a travel planner and lifestyle writer based in Mexico City. She lives for the dopamine hit that comes directly after booking a plane ticket, exploring local markets, practicing yoga and munching on fresh tortillas. Sign up to receive her Sunday Love Letters to your inbox, peruse her blog, or follow her on Instagram.
The best way to get to know Mexico is through it's winding bike trails, close to nature. Here is our guide to some must-ride paths across the country. (Clayton Cardinalli/Unsplash)
The words “nature” and “trails” sound like music to the ears of mountain biking enthusiasts. If you feel inspired, confident, and motivated to explore some off the beaten track travel experiences (literally) in Mexico, then look no further.
We have investigated the best nature biking trails out there, from the north to the south of the country. Biking routes in Mexico are as varied as the country’s rich biodiversity. From the stunning contrast of the deep blue Pacific Ocean and Sierra Madre mountains to the cenotes in the Yucatán peninsula, explore some of the top-rated nature trails for cycling in Mexico.
Part of your route in Yucatan must include a visit to a cenote – take a trail past the stunning Cenote Samulá. (CC)
Whatever your taste in biking-based exploration, you are guaranteed to find a trail near you with options that will enhance your understanding of Mexico’s topography and natural beauty. Welcome to this natural journey through our country!
Atotonilco Circuit, San Miguel Allende, Guanajuato
This trail is ideal for hiking, mountain biking, and running. It is a 26.6 kilometer loop near San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, where you can appreciate nature alongside the historical monuments and churches scattered across the region. The route is very peaceful and is considered to be of medium difficulty.
Pozas Huichichila, Puerto Vallarta
This route near Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco is best during the rainy season (June through July) to experience the pools at their maximum water level. It is a path that leads to a small valley nestled between hills at the base of the Sierra Madre, an old road to Puerto Vallarta. Dogs are welcome on this trail, making it ideal for hiking, mountain biking and running. Pozas Huichichila is a 5.8 kilometer round trip.
Santa Catarina River, National Park Cumbres de Monterrey
Fall in love with the views of the Santa Catarina River in Cumbres de Monterrey National Park. (Unsplash)
This route is an excellent choice if you wish to explore the nature of the northern state of Nuevo León and its eastern Sierra Madre mountain range. The views of the stunning cleft mountains are truly breathtaking. It is a 57.6 kilometer round trip route near Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, but is open to hikers, bikers and runners alike.
Diego Mateo Valley, National Park El Chico, Hidalgo
Set in a lush oyamel forest surrounded by cliffs, valleys and ravines, this route in central Mexico is truly stunning. The valley is situated in one of the most renowned areas of the national park, considered one of the most important in Mexico. Diego Mateo is a short ride, at just a 2.7 kilometer round trip. Near the municipality of Mineral del Chico, Hidalgo, home to several of the first Pueblos Mágicos. Here, you can enjoy camping, hiking, mountain biking and running, as well as the unique British-style towns constructed during the 19th century.
Guadalupe Valley, Baja California
Vineyards, pastures and high cliffs overlooking the waves of the Pacific Ocean characterize this stunning route, which is perfect for bikers. Located near Ensenada, Baja California, this incredible road offers a 9.8 kilometer round trip route through extraordinary landscapes. You may also want to consider stopping for a delicious drink and meal along the way, as the region is home to some of Mexico’s best wineries.
Real de Catorce, San Luis Potosí
The viewpoint at San Luis Potosí’s Real de Catorce affords some mindblowing views and a great ride. (Alltrails)
This 2.7 kilometer round trip route will lead you to a viewpoint with magnificent views of the famous and beautiful Sierra de Catorce. Here, you can (of course) enjoy mountain biking, but adventure junkies can also trade in their wheels for a horseback ride through the canyon. Part of the charm of this small town is its immersion in the beauty of the desert, creating a timeless atmosphere due to its history as a colonial silver mining center in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
San Nicolás Totolapan South, México state
Dogs are welcome on this beautiful forest trail. The scents and views are amazing, and it’s a 14.6 kilometer loop near Mexico City in the state of México. The vegetation is predominantly composed of oaks, pines and oyamel trees, creating a delightful environment where your dog can roam freely without a leash, and you can tear up the dirt trails on your mountain bike.
Cenotes X’Kekén and Samulá, Yucatán
From Sisal Park in the center of Valladolid to the cenotes of X’Kekén and Samulá, this cycle route takes riders through some of the Yucatán’s most picturesque jungle. You will traverse the Dzitnup Bike Path, and along the way, encounter La Cueva, a stunning cave with massive limestone formations and stalactites hanging from the ceiling. It is an 11.7 kilometer round trip near Valladolid, Yucatán.
Pista Bavisto, Sonora
Desert riders can check out Pista Bavisto, Sonora. (Alltrails)
What other Mexican mountain bike trails would you add? if you think there’s an amazing ride that we ought to know about – let us know in the comments!
Ana Paula de la Torre is a Mexican journalist and collaborator for various outlets including Milenio, Animal Político, Vice, Newsweek en Español, Televisa and Mexico News Daily.
