President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to Argentina starting Dec 2, his second such trip to the country.
Xi will hold talks with Argentine President Mauricio Macri to facilitate bilateral ties, said Qin Gang, vice foreign minister, adding the two heads of state will also have an in-depth exchange of views on international and regional issues.
The two sides are scheduled to publish a joint statement, and sign a joint action plan for the two governments in the next five years as well as cooperation documents on economy and trade, finance, and public security, according to Qin.
Let’s take a look at some of the highlights of high-level exchanges, pragmatic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
Bilateral high-level ties
Diplomatic relations between China and Argentina were established in February 1972, and the ties have been enhanced by frequent exchanges of high-level visits.
July 2014
President Xi Jinping arrives in Buenos Aires on July 18, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]
This marks the first time that President Xi Jinping has traveled to Argentina for a state visit. China-Argentina relations have been promoted to a comprehensive strategic partnership since this visit.
May 2017
President Xi Jinping holds talks with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on May 17, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]
President Mauricio Macri of Argentina attended the Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit and paid a state visit to China from May 14 to May 18, 2017.
The two heads of state agreed to expand bilateral, mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation in various fields and push the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership for greater development. Nuclear energy, sports and infrastructure were among the highlights of the 16 cooperative documents signed between China and Argentina.
April 1, 2016
Nuclear Security Summit, Washington DC, US
President Xi Jinping and his Argentine counterpart Mauricio Macri hold a bilateral meeting at the Washington Nuclear Security Summit on April 1, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
The two sides reached a new consensus on strengthening bilateral relations and international and regional cooperation.
Sept 3, 2016
G20 Summit, Hangzhou, China
President Xi Jinping meets with President Mauricio Macri of Argentina, on Sept 3, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Argentina, both as major emerging market economies and comprehensive strategic partners, should strengthen exchanges and cooperation, join efforts in tackling challenges and seek common development together.
July 26, 2018
BRICS summit, Johannesburg, South Africa
President Xi Jinping and his Argentine counterpart, Mauricio Macri on July 26, 2018. [Photo/Xinhua]
Xi said that China is willing to work with Argentina to make contributions to safeguarding the multilateral trading system and improving global governance.
Bilateral trade
Local residents enter a service outlet of the Argentine subsidiary of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, Nov 29, 2018.[Photo/Xinhua]
China is Argentina's third-largest trading partner in the world and Argentina is China's fifth-largest trading partner in Latin America.
According to China Customs statistics, the bilateral trade volume in 2017 was $13.81 billion, up 12.1 percent from one year earlier. China's export volume was $9.07 billion and import volume was $4.74 billion, with a year-on-year increase of 25.9 percent and a fall of 7.4 percent, respectively.
China mainly exports machinery and equipment, electrical appliances and electronic products, computers and communication equipment, motorcycles, textiles and clothing. Imports include soybeans, crude oil, and leather.
Financial cooperation
Pictured, from left, are the headquarters of the Central Bank of Argentina (BCRA) in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the headquarters and head office of the People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, in Beijing, China. [Photo/IC]
April 8, 2013
The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China opened a subsidiary in Buenos Aires, Argentina, making it the first Chinese bank entering Argentine market.
July 18, 2017
The People's Bank of China renewed a currency swap agreement with the Central Bank of Argentina on July 18, 2017. The agreement allows the two central banks to swap 70 billion yuan ($10.4 billion) for 175 billion Argentine pesos.
Technical cooperation
An aerial photo, taken on July 11, 2018, shows the solar power plant project of the Shanghai Electric Power Construction Co near Cauchari, a town in the province of Jujuy, Argentina. [Photo/Xinhua]
The Chinese-financed plant is ideally positioned to capture sunlight via three solar parks and is expected to cut both energy costs and carbon dioxide emissions by at least 325,000 metric tons, and help boost clean energy and drive development in this far-flung region.
Science and technology cooperation
The Satellite Laser Ranging station in San Juan of Argentina. [Photo/nao.cas.cn]
The Satellite Laser Ranging station, provided by National Astronomical Observatories of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was installed and put into observation in Sau Juan, Argentina, in February 2006. This is the largest astronomical science cooperation project that China has conducted in South America.
People-to-people exchanges
The Artuno Beruti Choir participates in the 2018 China (Qiandongnan) International Folk Song Choral Festival and International Federation for Choral Music “Voice of the World Talks Mysteriously from the River”, on July 29, 2018. [Photo/IC]
The Arturo Beruti Choir held a vast concert tour across China from July 13 to July 30, 2018. It was the only South American choir invited and, at the end of its tour, it received a cultural ambassador recognition for the offered concerts and repertoire, which included mainly original music and Argentine choral arrangements, as well as Latin American music.
Tourism
A view from a cruise ship docked at the port in Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina, on Sept 11, 2018. [Photo/IC]
January 2007
Package tour for Chinese citizens to Argentina officially began.
June 2015
The two parties officially implemented a visa agreement for facilitating tourist personnel. The visa period for Chinese citizens to apply for travel to Argentina will be significantly shortened, and the required documents will be more simplified.
June 2017
The two countries exchanged a 10-year multi-entry travel and business visa agreement.
Editor:Cherie
