Interview: Argentine VP eyes peaceful S Atlantic, appreciates China's support

Argentina is committed to building a peaceful South Atlantic and appreciates China's support for this undertaking, Vice President Amado Boudou said here Tuesday.

In an interview with Xinhua, the Argentine leader, who is also president of the Senate, noted that the North Atlantic "has been a zone of wars and conflicts, where NATO deals primarily with military issues."

"We are focusing on ensuring peace in the region and on building a peaceful South Atlantic," he added, pointing out that all conflicts in the region have been solved except Colombia's internal strife, and "great efforts are being made" to settle it.

The only militarized place left in the region, he said, is the colonial British base in the Malvinas, a disputed archipelago over which Argentina claims sovereignty and known as the Falklands to the British.

The group of islands, located 600 km off Argentina's coast, is currently under British administration, and Buenos Aires has been demanding to reclaim them through dialogue.

China has consistently backed Argentina's sovereignty claim and urged Buenos Aires and London to resolve the dispute through negotiations in line with relevant UN resolutions.

The Argentine government, said Boudou, thinks highly of "China's constant help on the Malvinas issue, which does not only concern Argentina, but all of Latin America and beyond."

Argentina and China have maintained close ties since they established diplomatic relations in 1972.

In February, Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted his Argentine counterpart, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, in Beijing where they agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties.

The two sides signed a series of cooperation deals, including one on energy infrastructure development that would see China help Argentina build nuclear power plants.

China has also agreed to help improve the Belgrano Cargas railway line, which is key to Argentina's agricultural exports, and supply boats to dredge rivers in the South American country.

Meanwhile, China is now the primary destination for Argentine meat exports, accounting for 35 percent of the country's total exports, according to the Argentine Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries.

In addition, the South American country, which boasts rich expertise in agricultural matters, is also helping China improve its food safety standards.

Last month, Argentina opened its first Chinese Culture House in the University of Congress. Chinese Ambassador Yang Wanming emphasized that cultural exchanges are "a very important part of" bilateral ties.

"We are two peaceful countries, united in brotherhood to achieve the best level of collaboration. We are committed to improving the quality of life for our people," Boudou said in the interview. Endi