MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

“Malvinas Argentinas” and “One China” policies ratified by Beijing and Buenos Aires

Vice-presidents Boudou and Li exchanged smiles and supports

Visiting Chinese Vice-president Li Yuanchao expressed on Friday “full support for Argentina’s sovereign claims over the Malvinas Islands” while his Argentine peer, Amado Boudou matched his words ratifying the ‘one China’ policy.

The Chinese top official, on his first overseas visit since the new administration of President Xi Jinping was inaugurated this year in Beijing, was received by President Cristina Fernandez, and later visited the Argentine Congress before heading for the Palacio San Martin, seat of the Foreign ministry to sign a raft on agreements that make to the ‘strategic association’ of China with Argentina.

Foreign minister Hector Timerman and the head of the Lower House Julian Dominguez, who has been to China several times both as a lawmaker and former Agriculture minister, were also present at the event.

“The commitment of the relation with China that covers economic, financial, productive and international affairs will continue to strengthen with time” said Boudou in his speech before thanking the visiting Vice-president Li for Beijing’s ongoing support for “Argentine sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands”.

“We have always been clear about the concept of a ‘one China’; we have always been next to you in support of ‘one China’; this has been so during the more than four decades of full bilateral relations”, said Boudou.

On his turn Li said that “China renews its support for Argentine sovereignty claims over the Malvinas Islands and is grateful for Argentina’s stance on the ‘one China’ principle, and the question of Taiwan and Tibet”.

Boudou underlined the strength with which both countries have been working in multilateral organizations and G20 to advance with the new world financial and economic architecture “with greater emphasis on the real economy and life quality of the peoples instead of concentrating only in the financial system as has been happening so far”.

Following the speeches several cooperation agreements were signed including technical assistance at university level with Chinese corporations and others referred to trade and investments. China is the second most important trade partner of Argentina, behind Brazil.

From Argentina, the Chinese delegation flies to Venezuela for another round of talks on trade, energy, defence and finance.