The mechanical properties of Mg97Zn1MM2 alloy were studied. Owing to high hardness of its second phase, the yield strength of as-extruded Mg97Zn1MM2 alloy exceeds that of Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy. The microstructure is identified that the second phase in Mg97Zn1MM2 alloy is (La,Ce)(Mg,Zn)(12). The hot rolling can refine the size of the second phases and disperse them uniformly. Hot rolling of Mg97Zn1MM2 alloy at 773 K provided a yield strength of 300 MPa. The strengthening mechanism of Mg97Zn1MM2 alloy is dispersion hardening by a strong second phase while that of Mg97Zn1Y2 alloy is precipitation strengthening by a long-period stacking ordered phase. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.