Chinese premier meets Argentine president

BEIJING, Feb. 5-- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang met with Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in Beijing on Thursday, calling for cooperation in areas including financing and direct trading of bulk commodities.

Hailing the fruitful talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Fernandez a day before, Li said China hopes to make joint efforts with Argentina to take their friendly relations to a higher level.

The two countries, as major developing countries and emerging economies, enjoy huge potential and sound momentum for cooperation in diversified areas, according to the premier.

China has rich experience and advanced technology in railways, nuclear power, electricity and telecommunication construction, and has high-quality and cost-effective equipment in these sectors, he said.

"We are willing to participate in Argentina's transportation infrastructure renewal and the development of nuclear energy," Li told Fernandez.

He also vowed to expand cooperation with Argentina in agriculture, fishery and energy, and to cement education and cultural exchanges.

Fernandez described her China visit as a new starting point for bilateral relations, calling her visit fruitful.

Argentina values its comprehensive strategic partnership with China, she said, pledging to maintain high-level contact with the country, and enhance cooperation in areas including infrastructure building, nuclear power, telecommunication and education.

Invited by Xi, Fernandez is paying a state visit to China from Tuesday to Thursday.

Xi and Fernandez signed a joint statement on Wednesday on deepening the comprehensive strategic partnership, and witnessed the inking of documents on cooperation in political, economic, trade, finance, nuclear energy, culture, public health, justice, space technology, telecommunications and tourism sectors.