Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China (CPC), left Cancun Sunday morning after concluding a goodwill visit to Mexico and flew to Venezuela.

Mexico is the first leg of Li's four-nation trip to Latin America and the Caribbean region, which will also take him to Venezuela, Peru and Suriname.

Li, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, is the highest ranking Chinese leader to visit Mexico since Chinese President Hu Jintao's state visit in 2005.

During his visit to Mexico, Li held a series of meetings with Mexican leaders and officials, including President Felipe Calderon, the President of the Senate, Manlio Fabio Beltrones Rivera, Secretary of Foreign Relations Patricia Espinosa Cantellano, Manuel Espino, president of the ruling National Action Party and Felix Arturo Gonzalez, governor of the State of Quintana Roo.

During the meetings, both sides agreed to continue the momentum of the exchange of high-level visits and to advance the bilateral strategic partnership to a new level.

Li also visited a number of historical and cultural sites in Mexico and made extensive contact with people from all walks of life in the country.

Li received a warm welcome from the Mexican people.

"I'm so excited to welcome Li here," said Margarita Carmona of El Rosario, in Tlaxcala, Mexico.

"I know China is a great country far from from Mexico. But I never dreamed of meeting a Chinese leader here," Carmona said at a historical site near Mexico City, where Li visited Friday.

Li flew from Mexico City to Cancun Friday afternoon.

Source: Xinhua