Former Mexican President Vicente Fox spoke Thursday morning at a news conference in Peoria, Arizona, saying China’s economy is forecast to emerge as the world’s largest in a decade or so. Fox urged the U.S. to expand its partnership with Mexico as a means to promote business and avoid being left behind by China.

“We have a threat on the horizon — the threat of the power shift from the west to the east,” Fox said. “Those nations in the east are getting ready and prepared to lead.”

Fox gave a keynote speech at the event, which was aimed at promoting trade relations between Arizona and Mexico. The former Coca-Cola executive, who led Mexico from 2000 to 2006, called upon Western leadership to prevent losing jobs to the east. He said that with a new president set to take over in Mexico and the upcoming presidential election in the United States, there is an opportunity for “a new path based on … humanism, on compassion and on friendship” within the framework of shared Western values.

Fox emphasized that Mexicans in the U.S. contribute economically to the country and that the two nations share an annual $500 billion trade relationship. “I’m not for open borders, but I am for the use of our talent, our wisdom, our intelligence,” he said.