China Makes Stance Clear on Working with Argentina After Javier Milei's Criticisms

China said Tuesday it wants to keep its relations with Argentina on track despite the election of a right-wing libertarian president who has vowed not to deal with communists, Reuters reports.

Javier Milei, who won Sunday's presidential vote, has slammed China and Brazil, two of Argentina's top trading partners. He once called China's government an "assassin" and said its people were "not free."

Milei's stance contrasts with the outgoing president, Alberto Fernandez, who visited Beijing last month and praised China as a "true friend." Fernandez also promised to work with China in groups such as the G20 and BRICS.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China and Argentina have a "sound momentum of growth" in their bilateral ties.

"China stands ready to work with Argentina to keep our relations on a steady course forward," Mao said.

Javier Milei Senior Adviser's Statement

Mao Ning told reporters at a press briefing that China and Argentina have a sound and growing bilateral relationship based on economic complementarity and mutual respect.

She was responding to a question about an interview that Diana Mondino, a senior adviser to President-elect Javier Milei, gave to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti on November 20.

The agency reported that Mondino said cooperation with China would be stopped under Milei's administration, XINHUA noted.

Mao said the agency's description of Mondino's statement was different from what she read on its website.

She said Mondino actually said that some people misunderstood Milei's foreign policy, that no country could isolate itself from diplomatic and economic ties, and that it would be a huge mistake for Argentina to cut off relations with major countries like China or Brazil.

Mao also said Mondino acknowledged that China is an important trading partner for Argentina and that the new government values its relations with China, especially in business.

China is Argentina's second-largest trading partner and the largest buyer of its agricultural products, Mao said. She said China is ready to work with Argentina to keep their relations on a steady course forward.

China and Argentina

China said Monday it congratulated Argentina on its peaceful presidential election and its new leader, Javier Milei, who has been critical of China.

Mao said China and Argentina have a long history of mutual respect and cooperation. She said both countries want to deepen their ties and benefit their people, per Global Times.

China sees its relations with Argentina as a long-term strategic partnership and is ready to work with Argentina to maintain their friendship, support each other's growth and prosperity through mutually beneficial cooperation, and keep their ties on a stable and lasting path of development for the benefit of both people, Mao noted.

China is one of Argentina's top trading partners. Bilateral trade reached $15.15 billion in the first 10 months of 2023, according to Chinese customs data. In 2022, trade between the two countries rose 20 percent to $21.36 billion.

Argentina also used the Chinese currency to repay part of its debt to the International Monetary Fund. The Argentine economy ministry said it will pay about $3.4 billion in debt and interest to the IMF soon, using some yuan from a currency swap deal with China's central bank.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

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