China says Argentina is its “strategic partner” ahead of bilateral meeting

(CNN Spanish) — China and Argentina are “comprehensive strategic partners,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said at a press conference this Thursday, referring to Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino's upcoming visit to the country on the 28th. April 29 and 30.

“Both China and Argentina are important developing countries and important emerging economies. Both countries are integral strategic partners. “China is ready to work with Argentina to continue to deepen bilateral mutual political trust and promote sustainable development,” Wang commented, the Chinese Embassy in the United States reported on its official website.

Foreign Minister Diana Mondino will visit Shanghai and Beijing from April 28 to April 30, Argentina's Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday.

Argentina's Foreign Minister Diana Mondino makes a statement with Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira at the Idamaraty Palace in Brasilia, April 15, 2024. (Credit: EVARISTO SA/AFP via Getty Images)

Mondino will meet with other officials, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, the letter said. And it will be “representative of Argentina's export offering, with a large group of businesses from various sectors.”

Mondino also travels to Paris, Brussels and Lisbon

Following China, Mondino will travel to Paris to attend the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Council of Ministers meeting on May 2 and 3.

The meeting, according to a statement released by Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is expected to announce Argentina's roadmap for joining the OECD.

Later, Mondino will travel to Brussels, where he will hold meetings with EU representatives, including EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simpson and International Partnerships Commissioner Jutta Urbilainen, to discuss intra-EU trade negotiations. and Mercosur (made up of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) and ahead of a meeting of the Argentina-EU Joint Commission on June 6 in Buenos Aires.

Finally, the Argentine president will meet Portugal's Foreign Minister Paulo Rangel in Lisbon and will be welcomed by the country's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

China was Argentina's second largest trading partner in 2023, surpassing only Brazil and following the European Union, according to a report by Argentina's foreign ministry, prepared with data from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INDEC) and released in January. Year.