MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chinese President Hu Jintao special envoy meets with new Argentina authorities

Jiang Shusheng attend the inauguration ceremony of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez (Photo Xinhua)

Argentina's new Vice President and Speaker of the Senate Amado Boudou met on Friday with Chinese President Hu Jintao's special envoy Jiang Shusheng to further promote bilateral relations.

Jiang is vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature and arrived in Buenos Aires on Friday to attend the inauguration ceremony of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez.

Jiang said Argentina is China's trusted friend and partner in Latin America and that “China has always attached strategic importance to developing relations with Argentina”.

He said as 2012 will be the 40th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations between the two countries, China is willing to make joint efforts with Argentina to enrich their bilateral strategic partnership and promote bilateral relations.

Boudou said Argentina has also attached great importance to developing its relations with China and considered it an important partner. He expressed Argentina's willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China to deepen the bilateral strategic partnership.

The two sides also exchanged views on the global economic situation according to an official release from the Vice president’s office.

Later in the day Jiang also met with Argentina's new House Speaker Julian Dominguez.

He made positive comments about the bilateral relations between China and Argentina, saying exchanges between the two parliaments are an important part of bilateral relations.

In recent years, the legislatures of China and Argentina have kept in close touch and enjoyed fruitful cooperation in international and regional organizations, promoting the mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples, Jiang said.

Furthermore, he said the Chinese National People's Congress highly values its communication and cooperation with the Argentine parliament, and is willing to keep frequent contacts with the latter to help bilateral ties develop better.

For his part, Dominguez said the Argentine House is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese National People's Congress to further contribute to the good relations between the two countries.