Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner landed a deal in Beijing ranging from two proposed nuclear power plants to joint space exploration.

The Associated Press reported De Kirchner arrived in Beijing Monday looking for help from what she called the world's "No. 1 economy."

Argentina landed a $6.8 billion deal Thursday to finance the construction of two hydroelectric dams and a railway, although it has already borrowed $14 billion from China since 2007.

Beijing has become a frequent destination for Argentina and other Latin American countries recently hit with economic issues. China has helped sustain Latin America and lift millions of its poor residents to middle class over the years by buying soybeans, iron ore and oil.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa borrowed $7.5 billion from China in January for new financing, although it had previously borrowed $10 billion.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said China would lend his country $20 billion in January as well, even though China has loaned Venezuela $50 billion since 2007.

"We are not calculating the gains and losses in the short period but building a long-term relationship," said Cui Shoujun, an international relations professor at Renmin University in Beijing. "It's a kind of partnership, not just Latin America relying on China and China wanting resources."

"China sees (Latin America) as very strategic because of natural resources," said Kevin Gallagher, an expert in China and Latin America relations at Boston University. "They might not need it anymore, but now they're pushing their firms around the world and see it as an opportunity to get market share.".

China has been generous with loans but keeps an eye out for Venezuela.

"In the case of Venezuela, it seems like China is at least more hesitant in terms of doling out large loans and considerable finance and rightly so," said Margaret Myers, director of the China and Latin America program at the Inter-American Dialogue.

China is looking to become the world's biggest economy over the United States by the next decade.

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