In the present work the synthesis of ceria based mixed oxides by an oxalate-gel method and the testing of their catalytic activity in the carboxylation of methanol with CO2 is described. The evaluation of their activity is performed in liquid phase. With ceria the influence of pressure, reaction temperature and the composition of the reactants in gas and liquid phase have been investigated. The thermodynamics of the reaction and the structural properties of the catalysts, which are characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR-and UV/VIS spectroscopy and physisorption, will be discussed.