Argentina seeks active economic cooperation with China

Argentine Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero said that China is a very important trading partner of Argentina and economic cooperation between the two countries is expected to be boosted.

The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Argentina, and the two countries see a new starting point for cooperation.

Cafiero stressed that China's One Belt, One Road initiative has played a vital role in boosting investment and infrastructure cooperation. He believes that bilateral relations are bound to develop in various aspects.

"China is a very important trading partner of Argentina. Our country participates in the One Belt, One Road initiative to promote Chinese investment in Argentina. I am confident that our bilateral relations will definitely develop in the areas of economy, trade and infrastructure, to improve the diversification and competitiveness of Argentine exports to China and the rest of the world," Cafiero said.

The foreign minister noted that the year 2022 was an important milestone in the development of bilateral relations between Argentina and China. The two heads of state met twice last year.

The seventh summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) was held in the Argentine capital Buenos Aires on Tuesday, 24 January. At the invitation of Argentine President Alberto Fernandez, who is the rotating president of CELAC, Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed the summit by video message, calling for greater solidarity and closer cooperation in the face of global challenges.

Cafiero said he looked forward to continuing and deepening relations between Argentina and China, as well as between Latin American countries and the PRC. Argentina has not only participated in the Belt and Road initiative but has also applied to join the BRICS alliance.

"We participated in the Belt and Road initiative and we are ready to join the BRICS cooperation mechanism. We consider joining BRICS a natural process, as three of Argentina's four biggest trading partners are part of the alliance: Brazil, China and India," Cafiero concluded, as reported by CCTV+, a partner of TV BRICS.

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