China seeks to enhance relations with Argentina

Li calls on nations to push forward cooperation in trade and investment

China is seeking to deepen its ties with Argentina "with a more comprehensive and strategic vision", Premier Li Keqiang told a visiting high-ranking Argentine official on Sunday.

Li made the remarks when meeting Julian Dominguez, president of the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the Argentine parliament, in Zhongnanhai, the headquarters of the central government in downtown Beijing.

China and Argentina are both important emerging economies and developing countries, and the two should develop bilateral relations "with a more comprehensive and strategic vision", Li told Dominguez during the meeting.

He called on the two nations to push forward cooperation in trade and investment and seek joint development.

Li also briefed Dominguez on the economic situation in China, saying the Chinese dream of national revival will become a great opportunity for the world.

According to Chinese customs, bilateral trade reached $14.4 billion in 2012. China is Argentina's second-largest trading partner, while Argentina is China's sixth-largest trading partner in Latin America.

Jiang Shixue, an expert on Latin American studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China's business ties with Argentina are in excellent shape, except for Argentina's frequent anti-dumping investigations against China.

"In that regard, at the moment it is significant for the two sides to realize the importance of each other," Jiang said.

China is a market with huge potential for Argentina, while Argentina, a G20 member, also plays a big role in China's business in Latin America, he said.

"And I think Beijing has sent signals that it would like to see the two sides have their eyes more on the comprehensive picture of cooperation and develop it in a strategic way," he said.

Li also told Dominguez that Beijing is happy to see Latin American nations get stronger through concerted efforts, and would like to strengthen cooperation with Argentina to take China's relations with these countries to a higher level.

Dominguez told the Chinese premier that China's development has brought a huge opportunity for his country.

Argentina sees China as an important cooperation partner and is firmly committed to developing ties with the country, he said.

He added that Argentina wants to deepen comprehensive cooperation with China and push forward the strategic partnership to a new stage.

Dominguez also met Zhang Dejiang, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, on Sunday morning.

"China places great importance on developing relations with Argentina," Zhang said.

Zhang said the NPC has always placed importance on strengthening friendly cooperation with the Argentine Congress.

He also expressed China's readiness to further step up exchanges of experience in the areas of legislation and national governance.

He called for the legislatures of the two countries to carry out an in-depth dialogue on issues of common interest.

Such dialogue could play a unique role in enhancing mutual trust, advancing practical cooperation and deepening the friendship between the two peoples, Zhang said.