On July 18 local time, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of Argentina in Buenos Aires. The two heads of state exchanged in-depth views on China-Argentina relations and topics of common interest, reached important consensus and came to a unanimous decision to upgrade China-Argentina relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, to firmly consider each other as important development opportunities and development partners, to strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation and strategic coordination, to bring benefit to the two countries and peoples and to enhance solidarity and cooperation among emerging market countries and developing countries.
Before the talks, Cristina held a grand welcoming ceremony for Xi Jinping at the Casa Rosada. Xi Jinping, under the escort of the cavalry, arrived at the Casa Rosada. The honor guard held the national flags of China and Argentina, lined up on either side of the steps and saluted Xi Jinping with their eyes. Xi Jinping received warm reception from Cristina. In the hall, the military band played national anthems of China and Argentina. The two heads of state introduced accompanying personnel to each other. Later on, the two heads of state held talks.
Cristina extended warm welcome to Xi Jinping and stressed that President Xi Jinping's visit embodies that China attaches importance to Argentina, which is Argentina's honor. The bilateral relations are in the new phase of development. Today, she headed several government ministers to hold talks with President Xi Jinping. They looked forward to pushing the bilateral cooperation to a higher level with the Chinese side.
Xi Jinping pointed out that, at present, the international situation is undergoing profound and complicated changes and global economy is still in deep transition. China and Argentina are both emerging market countries and in a critical phase of development. The two countries should stay in the same boat to overcome difficulties, deepen cooperation and join hands to address challenges so as to realize common development. We decide to upgrade the bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership, to strengthen coordination and cooperation and to push forward the constant and in-depth development of China-Argentina relations.
Xi Jinping stressed that China and Argentina should further deepen political mutual trust, support each other's independent choice of development path, provide firm mutual support for issues concerning sovereignty, territorial integrity and so on, enhance high-level and multi-level exchanges in various fields, communicate and mutually draw on the experience of governance and administration of state affairs, facilitate personnel exchanges and support people-to-people and cultural exchanges. We should promote the stable and balanced growth of bilateral trade, actively conduct industrial investment cooperation in such areas as oil and gas, mining, agriculture and nuclear energy, and push forward strategic cooperation of infrastructure construction and finance. Both sides should strengthen communication and coordination in major issues such as global governance and the reform of international economic and financial system, well safeguard the rights and interests of emerging market countries and developing countries and drive the international order to develop in a more just and reasonable direction.
Cristina expressed that Argentina and China are both emerging market countries and agree on many major issues. The bilateral relations are of strategic and international significance. The establishment and development of comprehensive strategic partnership are in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and also are conducive to promoting the democratization of international relations. Argentina appreciates China's development and stands ready to draw on China's successful experience and become the all-round partner of cooperation of China. She fully agreed with President Xi Jinping's proposition and initiative to reinforce bilateral cooperation. Facts prove that Argentina-China cooperation gears up the development of Argentine economy and improves people's livelihood. China is a country that practices honesty and keeps its promises. The Argentine side stands ready to work with the Chinese side to strengthen governmental and inter-party contacts, promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges and expand practical cooperation. The Argentine side hopes to work with the Chinese side to enhance coordination and cooperation within the multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations (UN) and the Group of Twenty (G-20). The Argentine side congratulated on the success of the just convening China and Latin American and the Caribbean Summit and believes that the establishment of the China-CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum will greatly promote the solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.
Cristina also expressed that the concerns of the Argentine side over the debt dispute issue with the American Vulture Fund. Xi Jinping stressed that the Chinese side understands and supports the concerns of the Argentine side over the issue of debt restructuring and hopes that this issue will be resolved properly.
After the meeting, the two heads of state jointly signed and issued the Joint Statement on Establishing Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the People's Republic of China and the Argentine Republic. The two heads of state also witnessed the signing of the Joint Action Plan of the Governments of China and Argentina, the China-Argentina Economic and Investment Cooperative Agreement, the Bilateral Currency Swap Agreement and various cooperative documents in infrastructure construction, nuclear power, agriculture and other fields.
The two heads of state attended together the video opening ceremony of Argentina's Presidente Néstor Kirchner Hydroelectric Station project, Governor Jorge Saipan Nick Hydropower Station project and Belgrano Cargas freight rail renovation project. Xi Jinping delivered a speech and hoped that entrepreneurs and staffs from the two countries will sincerely cooperate with each other to make these projects become examples of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Argentina and even between China and Latin America.
Leaders of the two countries also jointly met with journalists. Xi Jinping stressed that my visit to Argentina this time aims at enhancing friendship, deepening mutual trust, expanding cooperation and facilitating development. Just now President Cristina and I held fruitful talks. We have unanimously decided to upgrade the bilateral relations to comprehensive strategic partnership. We have also signed a series of cooperative documents. These fruitful results are bound to make the bilateral cooperation closer and vigorously promote common development of the two countries.
Cristina expressed that today is an important day. She and President Xi Jinping reached important consensus on establishing Argentina-China comprehensive strategic partnership. The Argentine side is willing to make joint efforts with the Chinese side to open a new chapter of bilateral relations.
Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others attended the above events.