In an attempt to strengthen relations in the region, Russian President Vladimir Putin is visiting a number of Latin American countries. In his latest visit, he met with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner and signed accords, including one on nuclear energy.

Putin began his Latin America trip on Friday, meeting with Cuban leaders, according to The Moscow Times. He then met with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and followed that with a meeting in Buenos Aires.

During his meeting with Fernandez de Kirchner, the leaders discussed their countries' future relationship. According to the Buenos Aires Herald, the two leaders signed "significant accords addressing nuclear energy cooperation, legal cooperation, and increased communications and cultural exchanges."

In a joint news conference, Fernandez de Kirchner praised the strategic importance of political and economic ties between the two nations, a sentiment Putin echoed. He has called Argentina a "key strategic partner" for the Russia in Latin America and also within the G20 and the U.N.

Argentina also strengthened communication ties with Russia through an agreement and the arrival of Russian channel RT in the country, the Herald reported.

"Today we have signed an agreement over mass communications sectors, which will help our respective news agencies to share information," Putin said. However, the most important agreement is the one on energy. Fernandez de Kirchner expressed hope that Russia would help modernize Argentina's hydroelectric energy sector, but most crucial is the nuclear energy agreement signed Saturday.

According to The Associated Press, the countries have agreed that Russian company Rosatom will help build units for the Atucha III nuclear power plant. Argentina has been attempting to rebuild its nuclear energy sector to decrease its dependency on fossil fuels.

"These are very important agreements," Fernandez de Kirchner said at the news conference in the presidential palace.

"Argentina is a leader in Latin America in terms of nuclear energy generation," she said, adding of the agreements, "they reaffirm our bonds of friendship and strategic links."