“The meeting was very fruitful and represented the completion of the work we have been doing in the past months. The different subcommittees of our bilateral table presented all the work that was carried out, from political affairs to cultural, defense, environmental and agricultural affairs," underscored Foreign Minister Malcorra after her meeting with the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China, Wang Yi, in Beijing.
The Argentine Foreign Minister added: "We have reconfirmed our work plan for the creation of a bilateral strategic partnership, which shows that we are on the right track; based on mutual respect and understanding, both parties will work in line with our priorities and interests and will find spaces in common."
"We have worked hard to restore our relationship, which stemmed from a series of agreements concluded by the former administration, which President Macri's administration, with the intention of cementing the ties with China, had to revalidate. We have done this; we have changed course where necessary. China was flexible enough to accept this and I think today we are making progress on specific issues, many of which will be reflected in the agreements signed in the presence of both presidents," said the Argentine Foreign Minister.
Malcorra remarked that "both the Argentine side and the Chinese side have the intention, willingness and flexibility to mutually understand priorities and align them with the aims to improve results for each country."
The Argentine Foreign Minister highlighted the importance of the invitation extended by Xi Jinping to President Macri for him to participate in the OBOR Forum. "The Chinese president said that this goes beyond the traditional Silk Road, and the fact that he invited us, a country from South America, from Latin America, was very good."
"The OBOR Forum served as a launchpad. Our bilateral agenda is fully aligned with the new Silk Road agenda. This shows that priorities are gradually being aligned, and that all the efforts made have the same goal."
"The main initiative introduced by the new Silk Road platform is integration beyond countries, that is, regional and global integration, at a time when integration is being brought into question. In Argentina we are convinced of that, and our work on the bilateral agenda with China has much to do with integration, with the bi-oceanic corridor and with the integration of Mercosur and UNASUR," explained Malcorra.
Furthermore, participation by Argentine businesspersons was described by the Foreign Minister as "highly important, because we are not to forget that governments can only work on issues concerning development. In the end, it is the business sector that affords people sustainable employment, and I believe that what we did yesterday at the business Forum was really important."
Press release No. 188/17
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