Argentine media highlight president's meeting with Chinese counterpart

Argentine media Saturday hailed the meeting between Argentine President Mauricio Macri and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Hangzhou, believing it would push forward relations between the two countries in various economic and trade sectors.

Macri, who has come to the eastern Chinese city to attend the G20 summit scheduled for Sunday and Monday, met Xi on Saturday.

The Clarin newspaper said the meeting was important given China's important infrastructure investments in the country.

The state Telam news agency said: "Macri and Xi agreed to strengthen commercial and cultural links between both countries" while the Diarios and Noticias news agency said Macri "proposed to Xi Jinping that the tourism flow from China to Argentina should be increased."

Macri said Argentina is committed to deepening its friendship with China and would "drive cooperation in energy, trade, investments, quality control, infrastructure and tourism."

After the meeting, Argentine ambassador to China, Diego Guelar, said China "has become a main partner of the U.S., Europe, Russia, Brazil and Argentina. It is our main banker and investor and the most important market for agricultural products."

Argentina has received a great amount of investments from China, especially in infrastructure, such as railway, hydropower and nuclear projects, according to officials.

According to Infobae, Macri was also set to meet with Jack Ma, the president of China's on-line business group, Alibaba, as well as representatives of China's Sany Heavy Industry, China National Nuclear Corporation, Power China and China Gezhouba. Endi