U.S. supports Argentina's economic reforms, says Kerry

Visiting U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said here on Thursday that his country supports the economic reforms initiated by Argentinean President Mauricio Macri last December.

After meeting separately with Macri and Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra, Kerry told a press conference that the U.S. supported "the decision by President Macri to insert Argentina into the world economy. He has made important and courageous decisions to push Argentina toward the future."

Kerry said that he found a renewed sense of optimism during a meeting he held with the Argentine-American Chamber of Commerce. However, he said that Argentina should be patient in terms of foreign investment, which the country needs to renovate its infrastructure.

He warned that investments take time and that, if the Macri government continues with its reform agenda, both countries will benefit.

Since coming to power in December, Macri has pursued an agenda which seeks to devalue the local currency, open the country up to foreign investment and resolve Argentina's protracted negotiations with foreign creditors, which former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner refused to discuss.

Kerry's visit is seen as the next step in a rapprochement which saw U.S. President Barack Obama visit in March.

At the press conference, Malcorra added that "we wish to maintain our bilateral agenda through political dialogue. In our meeting, we covered all the topics which were brought up during the visit of President Obama." Endit