The Mexican Ambassador to the Philippines, His Excellency Gerardo Lozano Arredondo, visited ADDU for a forum with the International Studies Department last September 2019. The ambassador addressed at least a hundred student participants at the Miguel Pro Learning Commons. Ambassador Arredondo opened by giving the student audience an overview of the culture, traditions, and the contemporary society of Mexico; he highlighted cultural and traditional elements unique to Mexico, from to its cuisine and its art, as well as elements shared by both Mexico and the Philippines, including the devotion to the Virgin of Guadalupe.
When the floor was also opened for questions, a student inquired after the Mexico’s strategy in tackling the problem of illegal drugs. Arredondo expressed that the trade of illegal drugs has very negative impacts not just to people and the population, but also in the economy. He said: “The strategy can depend on the reality of the country itself and the characteristics of the country. In Mexico, we consider the drug problem as a global problem, which cannot be solved without international collaboration.”
In the context of economics, and economic possibilities, Fr. Tabora also asked, “How is Mexico dealing with China? Are you open to a stronger relationship with China? Or do you feel threatened by China? Both in terms of manufacturing and the economy, but also as a security measure?” The ambassador answered, saying, “Mexico has been open to the Chinese economy… We need to learn much more about Chinese culture.” He also added, “Though we are convinced of the importance of the Chinese market, we approach very slowly.”