Interview: Argentina provides security for Chinese investors: ambassador

Incoming Argentine Ambassador to China Diego Guelar has said that his country provides security for Chinese investors and would seek to increase the number of Chinese businesses making investment in Argentina.

With the two countries marking the 44th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties this year, Argentine President Mauricio Macri would seek to deepen ties with China, Guelar told Xinhua.

In an interview published Thursday on the sidelines of a seminar with Chinese entrepreneurs at the Chinese embassy in Buenos Aires, Guelar said the past 10 years have been extraordinary for bilateral ties.

"The most important event of this decade was establishing a comprehensive strategic partnership with China," he said.

Guelar, who will take office on March 19, said that Chinese entrepreneurs and investors would find "a very friendly embassy, always open to investments, associations and exports."

He said that one of the big challenges facing Argentina was to provide the Chinese market with more products with high added-value. "We are working to open a distribution and trade center in Shanghai to promote Argentine products."

Guelar foresees that the embassies of Mercosur (Common Market of the South) countries will work together to boost trade between China and their countries.

"In 2010, China proposed a free trade agreement with Mercosur but has not got a response. The ball is in our court. When we take the opportunity of improving the relationship between Mercosur and China, China's response will be very favorable," he said.

"China is the largest trading partner to Brazil and Chile and the second largest to Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Uruguay and Bolivia. This shows the great importance China has attached to the region," the ambassador said.

"The growth of trade between China and South America in such a short time has been amazing and will continue to develop," Guelar said. Endi