The National Development and Reform Commission said on Feb 2 it “felt regret” about a recent decision by the Mexican government to indefinitely suspend a high-speed rail project that Chinese enterprises had submitted bids for.

A spokesperson made the remark in response to media questions, according to the official website of the commission.

“The Chinese enterprises have undertaken tremendous efforts in bidding for this project, involving huge manpower and financial costs,” the spokesperson said.

China expects that the Mexican government will “properly tackle the subsequent issues brought about by the project’s suspension, ensure the lawful rights and interests of Chinese enterprises in real and concrete terms, and take proactive measures to press ahead with bilateral pragmatic cooperation”, the spokesperson said.