MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Kirchner leads trade delegation to China.

Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and a delegation of 270 businessmen, ministers and provincial governors left on Thursday for China where next Monday they will begin an official state visit with the purpose of increasing trade and political contacts with the Asian giant.

The visit will extend from June 27 to July 2 and President Kirchner will try to convince his counterparts that Argentina is determined to become one of China's main South American partners in trade, investment and business partnerships.

President Kirchner on arrival in Beijing will be met by Chinese president Hu Jintao, Prime Minister Wen Jiabao and the chairman of the Standing Congressional Committee Wu Bangguo.

On the first day of his visit President Kirchner is scheduled to inaugurate a Tourism Congress which he will address, and later proceed to the opening of the Permanent Agriculture Advisory Office in Argentina's Embassy.

Argentine exports to China skyrocketed 125% last year to $2.73 billion, mostly for agricultural products such as soy and beef, as well as raw materials. Argentina wants to become a permanent supplier of the booming Chinese economy and will be offering agricultural machinery, food and other manufactured goods.

Mr. Kirchner's visit to China, the third by an Argentine leader since 1996, will coincide with a meeting between Mercosur and Chinese trade experts that will extend for two days with the objective of setting the foundations for a possible trade association and cooperation.

On Tuesday President Kirchner will lecture at Fudan University in Shanghai on bilateral relations and participate in several trade and financial meetings.

Mr. Kirchner's visit follows a recent tour by Brazilian president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who is also very much interested in opening a new trade and political option in the Far East.