OREANDA-NEWS   Mexico remains a friendly state towards Russia - the trade turnover between the countries remains, despite the difficulties in finance and logistics, and political and cultural contacts have developed over the past year, Russian Ambassador Viktor Coronelli said in an interview.

"Turbulence has increased in the world, but, fortunately, Mexico is not among the unfriendly states, it remains a friendly country, and this determined the dynamics of our bilateral relations last year.

They were developing positively, trade and economic relations were going well. I cannot name the volume of trade turnover yet, since the data of the Federal Customs Service has not yet been published, but according to my and my colleagues' feelings, Mexico confidently remained in the positions of our second largest trading partner in the region," the Russian diplomat said. According to Coronelli, the most notable moments in the political contacts that developed in 2022 were the meetings of Foreign Ministers Sergey Lavrov and Marcelo Ebrard in New York during the high-level week at the opening of the regular session of the UN General Assembly, as well as at the meeting of G20 foreign ministers in Bali. The bilateral agenda also included issues that were discussed at the UN Security Council, where Mexico worked as a non-permanent member of the organization. "A new composition of the friendship group with Russia has been formed in the lower house of the Mexican General Congress. Moreover, it was in March, after the start of a special military operation, which caused a very violent reaction here. I think it was a landmark moment in our bilateral relations last year," the head of the Russian diplomatic mission said.

Among the cultural events that the Mexican side hosted and helped organize are concerts by the Turkish Choir and a series of events in major cities dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Soviet and Russian scientist Yuri Knorozov, who deciphered the Maya script.

"As part of the anniversary, with the support of our Mexican colleagues, a number of events were held - a bust of Knorozov was opened in the library of the National Anthropological Museum, and a series of photo exhibitions were held in Merida, Mexico City, Puebla and Tlaxcala. In addition, our next honorary consulate was opened in Merida this year," the Russian ambassador added.