China’s government on Friday gave five Mexican companies the go-ahead to export pork to the Asian giant, releasing that initial list during Mexican Foreign Secretary Patricia Espinosa’s visit to Beijing.

The list was delivered during a meeting between Espinosa and her Chinese counterpart, Yang Jiechi, and marks the culmination of five years of talks that began on her first visit to China in 2007.

“The companies have been waiting for the moment to have this certification, which will allow them to make their first exports,” Espinosa said at a press conference, adding that she was pleased to announce this important trade development during what was likely her last visit to China as foreign secretary.

Mexico’s current administration will leave office in December.

In her meetings with Yang and Chinese Commerce Minister Chen Deming, the foreign secretary also analyzed the possibility of that “green light” being extended to other types of meat, including beef and poultry, as well as fruits such as limes and mangos.

“As well as to avocados from other parts of the country, since China currently imports Mexican avocados, but from Michoacan, and the idea is that (avocados) from Jalisco also can be exported,” she said.

“We said very frankly that the process to obtain the companies’ certification took a long time,” Espinosa said, adding that hopes are that the authorizations for pork will pave the way to faster negotiations for the other products.

Espinosa joined Yang for the 5th China-Mexico Binational Commission and also was received Friday by Vice Premier Wang Qishan and Vice President Xi Jinping, who is expected to become China’s next president in 2013.