Bright outlook for China-Argentina ties

President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday that cooperation between China and Argentina holds broad prospects, and China welcomes Argentina to seize the opportunities created by the country's high-level opening-up and further expand its share in the Chinese market.

He made the remarks while meeting with Argentine President Javier Milei in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the first meeting between the two leaders since Milei won the presidential election in November last year.

As both countries celebrate a decade of their comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said the China-Argentina relationship was at an important juncture, adding that China treasured the traditional friendship between the two peoples.

He stressed the need for China and Argentina to promote the long-term and stable development of bilateral ties.

Xi also said that China and Argentina are highly complementary on economic and trade structure. Last year, trade volume between the two countries exceeded $17 billion, with China being Argentina's second-largest trading partner.

Xi said China is ready to work with Argentina to continuously promote Belt and Road cooperation and deepen the relationship in areas including energy and mining, infrastructure, agriculture, sci-tech innovation and digital economy. He also expressed Beijing's willingness to continue financial cooperation with Buenos Aires to assist the Argentine side in maintaining economic and financial stability.

Milei praised the profoundly friendly relations between the two countries, saying that Argentina firmly supports China's position on the Taiwan question and adheres to the one-China principle.

He said his country is willing to further cooperation with China and welcomes more Chinese enterprises for investment and cooperation in Argentina.