BEIJING - A Mexican candidate for the role of director general of the World Trade Organization has pledged to "fight protectionism" amid the global economic downturn.

Herminio Blanco Mendoza promised efforts in concrete terms and in every sense to protect the free flow of goods in international trade during a press conference held at the Mexican Embassy in Beijing on Wednesday.

As emerging economies, China and Mexico face the same reality and share the same problems, he said, adding that both countries have been the target of anti-dumping probes launched by the United States.

He also called for a strong WTO, in which China should play a more central role rather than act as a negotiator.

China and Mexico enjoy sound economic ties, as bilateral trade jumped 14.1 percent year-on-year to $8.04 billion in the first quarter of 2012, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce.

It is still the first stage, he said, and the two countries need to make further efforts to boost economic cooperation.

Mendoza is one of nine nominees vying for the position currently held by Pascal Lamy from France, whose term will end on August 31.

The other eight nominees are from Ghana, Costa Rica, New Zealand, Kenya, Jordan, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea and Brazil.