On Sep. 5, 2013, President Xi Jinping met with President Cristina Fernandez of Argentina in St. Petersburg.Xi Jinping expressed, China has consistently attached importance to developing the traditional friendly relations with Argentina from a strategic perspective. China is willing to work with the Argentine side to unceasingly enrich and expand cooperation. Both sides should well leverage the intergovernmental cooperation mechanism, economic cooperation dialogue and other mechanisms, formulate the joint action plan and strengthen overall guidance. They need to promote a balanced growth of bilateral trade, to explore growth points for investment and to broaden cooperation in the fields of energy, mining, hydropower, infrastructure construction, agriculture and finance. Hope the Argentine side will create conditions for Chinese businesses to invest in Argentina. China supports people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Argentina is a major country in Latin America. China supports Argentina for playing a greater role in international affairs and is willing to work with the Argentine side to boost the overall cooperation between China and Latin America. China and Argentina are both emerging market countries. Both sides should strengthen cooperation to safeguard common interests of emerging market countries and developing nations.

Cristina Fernandez expressed that Argentina-China strategic partnership has enjoyed new development in recent years, with new steps in practical cooperation. China has become the second largest trade partner of Argentina. Argentina hopes to increase commodity exports to China. Argentina welcomes Chinese businesses joining in hydropower, railway as well as other major infrastructure projects in Argentina and entering the Latina American market via Argentina. Argentina hopes to advance bilateral currency swap. The Argentine side is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China in international affairs and in Latin America-China relations.

The two heads of state as well attended the signing ceremony of the memorandums of understanding on setting up the intergovernmental standing committee between the two countries and on establishing the strategic dialogue mechanism on economic cooperation and coordination.

Wang Huning, Wang Yang, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at the meeting.