In the second leg of President Xi Jinping visit to four Latin-American countries, Xi landed Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was welcomed by the country's President Christina Fernandez.

"This is not a matter of governmental relations. This is about relations between states, she said to Argentinean Newspaper, Buenos Aires Herald upon Xi's arrival.

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China and Argentina committed to a strategic partnership 10 years ago, and Xi greeted the 10^th anniversary by expressing his firm belief that the cooperation between the two countries will move to a new era based on past achievements.

Xi also stated that his meetings and exchanges of views with Argentinean leaders will further advance bilateral relations to the benefit of both countries.

China and Argentina forged diplomatic ties in 1972, and since then relations have moved forward rapidly.

Today China is Argentina's second largest trading partner with a $14.8 billion two-way trade in 2013. According to China's official statistics, that is more than 2,400 times the amount looking back at the starting point 42 years ago.

Argentina has become China's fifth largest trading partner in Latin America.

The productive cooperation is especially to be found in energy, agriculture, infrastructure development and finance.

Signing of agreements for Chinese investment of over $ 4.7 billion in the José Cepernic and Néstor Kirchner hydroelectric dams, as well as of the complete renovation of freight railway company Belgrano Cargas for more than $ 2 billion, were announced in the Woman's Chamber of the Government's House.

Besides that 15 other cooperation agreements were signed between the two presidents and Argentineans officials.

"The agreements signed are of structural importance to the country," President Fernández de Kirchner said, while Chinese President Xi Jinping hoped to "strengthen our bilateral relation in order to contribute to economic and social development."

It's the second time a Chinese president visits the country after Hu Jintao's visit 10 years ago where the strategic partnership was announced.

After the three days state visit to Argentina Xi will proceed on his Latin-America tour de force visiting Venezuela and Cuba.

TagsArgentina, Belgrano Cargas