President Jiang Starts State Visit to ArgentinaArgentina is the second-leg of Jiang's six-nation tour to Latin America and his first tour to the country. President Jiang's special plane touched down Saturday afternoon. The Chinese head of state and his delegation were honored at a welcome ceremony hosted by Argentine President Fernando de la Rua. Chinese Ambassador to Argentina Zhang Shaying Zhang's wife Li Ning and Chinese people residing here also gathered at the airport to welcome Jiang. Jiang's entourage who arrived aboard the same plane included Jiang's wife Wang Yeping, Vice-Premier Qian Qichen and his wife Zhou Hanqiong, Minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission Zeng Peiyan, Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Shi Guangsheng, Special Assistant Hua Jianmin, Vice-Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing, Deputy Director of the General Office of the Communist Party of China£¨CPC£©Central Committee and Director of the Central Guard Bureau You Xigui and Deputy Director of the Policy Research Office of the CPC Central Committee Wang Huning. In a written speech distributed at the airport, President Jiang highly commended the achievements made by the diligent and brave Argentine people in safeguarding sovereignty, developing economy and pursuing social progress. Geographically apart from the other, China and Argentina enjoys long-standing friendship, Jiang said. He particularly mentioned the continuous growth of bilateral cooperation in political, economic and trade, scientific and technological and cultural areas after the two countries forged diplomatic ties in 1972. "The Chinese government is committed to the further development of its ties with Argentina," Jiang said. Jiang expressed the hope that the visit will strengthen dialogue, enhance trust, promote cooperation and achieve common development. He also expressed the belief that the visit will lift the existing friendly and cooperative bilateral relations up to a new level. President Jiang came here after concluding a state visit to Chile earlier today. After Argentina, Jiang will visit Uruguay, Brazil, Cuba and Venezuela. Chronology: Major Events in Sino-Argentine RelationsThe following are major events in Sino-Argentine relations since 1972:1972 -- February 19, China and Argentina established diplomatic relations. 1980 -- Argentine President Jorge Rafael Videla visited China. 1985 -- Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang visited Argentina. 1988 -- Argentine President Raul Ricardo Alfonsin visited China. May 1990 -- Chinese President Yang Shangkun paid a state visit to Argentina at the invitation of his Argentine counterpart Carlos Saul Menem. The two sides signed a plan to carry out cultural exchanges between 1990-1992. November 14-16, 1990 -- Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem paid a state visit to China. During his visit, the two sides signed Sino-Argentine consulate treaty and other agreements. July 13, 1993 -- Beijing and Buenos Aries, capitals of the two countries, became sister cities and the Beijing-Buenos Aries mixed commission was found. April 20-24, 1994 -- The Chinese Communist Party delegation, headed by Hu Jintao, member of the Standing Committee of the party 's Politburo, paid an official visit to Argentina. That was the party's highest level delegation to visit Argentina since the two countries established diplomatic relations. November 14-18, 1994 -- Qiao Shi, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China paid a good-will visit to Argentina, the first ever visit to the country by the chairman of Chinese NPC Standing Committee since the two countries established diplomatic relations 22 years ago. October 2-5,1995 -- Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem paid a state visit to China. The two governments signed an agreement worth 200 million U.S. dollars on economic cooperation between enterprises of the two countries. January 26-29,1996 -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhu Rongji paid an official visit to Argentina to enhance mutual understanding and strengthen the contact between the two countries' high-ranking officials. May 15-17, 1997 -- Chinese Vice-Premier Li Langqing paid an official visit to Argentina. During his visit, the two countries signed a series of agreements on loan and investment. September 19-22, 1998 -- A government delegation led by Chinese Vice-Premier Wu Bangguo paid an official visit to Argentina. March 11, 2000 -- Argentina and China signed in Buenos Aires an agreement on China's admission into the World Trade Organization ( WTO). The document was signed by Argentine Deputy Foreign Minister Horacio Chighizola and Chinese Deputy Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Minister Sun Zhenyu. May 10, 2000 -- Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao, also a standing committee member of the Political Bureau of the Chinese Communist Party Central Committee, met with former President of Argentina and President of the Justicialist Party Carlos Saul Menem in Beijing. May 26, 2000 -- Argentine Consulate General opened in Shanghai. September 10-14, 2000 -- Argentine President Fernando de la Rua paid a five-day state visit to China at the invitation of Chinese President Jiang Zemin. The two heads of state held formal talks to exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern. China and Argentina signed an agreement on cultural exchange and cooperation between the two countries, and a memorandum of understanding between China Radio International (CRI) and an Argentine internet company. |
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