On Friday 12, Foreign Minister Mondino held a working meeting with the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Argentina, Wang Wei.
At the meeting, both officials highlighted the warm exchange of letters between Argentine President Javier Milei and Chinese President Xi Jinping, on the occasion of President Milei’s recent election, as well as both leaders’ interest in strengthening the bilateral relationship. Foreign Minister Mondino especially thanked the prompt acceptance of the appointment of the future Argentine Ambassador to China, diplomat Marcelo Suárez Salvia.
The Foreign Minister and the Ambassador also acknowledged the importance of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Argentina and China, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2024, and expressed their shared interest in continuing to strengthen it. In this regard, they discussed the need to reactivate the various existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
During the meeting, Mondino and Wang dismissed the recent unfounded press reports and reaffirmed the ties of friendship and the One China principle. “The trade exchange between the two countries is of undoubted importance, China being Argentina’s second largest trading partner, the second top destination for Argentina’s exports and the main source of its imports,” the Foreign Minister said.
With regard to Chinese financing for Argentine infrastructure, Argentina’s participation in China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which gathers more than 140 countries, was addressed as well. In this respect, Mondino mentioned that “these financial cooperation mechanisms are of great use to Argentina, provided that the financed projects serve its national interests.”
Finally, they discussed issues on the international agenda, such as the process to reform the UN Security Council, and stressed the concurrence of opinions between both countries within the Uniting for Consensus group, as well as the coordination between China and Argentina at the multilateral fora where they hold common positions.
