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Argentina on Saturday welcomed the results of President Cristina Kirchner's trade talks in Beijing this week, glossing over continuing disagreements between the countries over soybean oil.
During her trip, Kirchner inked contracts for railway projects in the South American country totalling 10 billion dollars, but failed to solve a dispute over high Chinese tariffs on soybean oil imported from Argentina, the world's top exporter of the product.
The trip "was very positive," said Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman, adding that Argentina hopes to "increase Chinese investments in our territory in order to create a platform for other Latin American countries."
He brushed aside the failure to resolve the soybean oil dispute. "The primary objective of the trip was not to resolve the soybean oil issue, though it is important, but to conduct a dialogue with China on other possibilities for Argentine industry and exports," he said.
A total of 10 projects -- ranging from two to five years – were agreed during the trip, including the purchase of Chinese railway technology and investments in electrification of Argentina's rail lines.
Trade between the two countries rose from four billion dollars in 2004 to 14 billion dollars in 2008, according to official data. Kirchner said China was Argentina's second trade partner after Brazil.
