MEXICO CITY - Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday received a ceremonial key to Mexico City, and called for closer bilateral exchanges on sub-national levels.

The key, along with a medal and an honorary citizenship certificate, embodies the friendship the Mexican people hold with the Chinese people, said the president.

Mexico City is a witness to the friendly exchanges between China and Mexico, Xi said, expressing the hope that Mexico City will boost exchanges and cooperation with Chinese provinces and cities so as to help promote the development of the overall China-Mexico ties.

Presenting Xi with the honors, Mayor Miguel Mancera said Mexico City admires China's rapid development and hopes that the two sides will learn from and cooperate with each other to tackle the challenges faced by modern cities and promote common development.

During a meeting with Mancera ahead of the ceremony, Xi said exchanges at local levels are an integral part of China-Mexico relations.

Noting that Mexico City is one of Beijing's sister cities and a participant in the 2010 Shanghai Expo, Xi called for concerted efforts to increase bilateral exchanges and enrich the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mancera said Mexico City is willing to step up economic cooperation and cultural exchanges with the Chinese side, and welcomes Chinese investments and tourists.

Mexico is the last leg of Xi's ongoing three-nation Latin America tour, which has already taken him to Trinidad and Tobago and Costa Rica.

From Mexico, Xi will fly to the US state of California to hold a summit meeting with US President Barack Obama.