On Tuesday, Chinese and Argentine ministers signed five agreements after visiting President Hu Jintao held talks with President Nestor Kirchner in Buenos Aires.

"We have reached wide-ranging consensus on bilateral cooperation and international issues of mutual concern," Hu told the press after the talks.

They reaffirmed the development of a "strategic partnership" and their support of each other on major issues like territorial integrity, Hu said.

Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of agriculture and animal husbandry, mineral resources, energy, transportation and telecommunications.

Kirchner said China has become Argentina's fourth largest trading partner and "best goods buyer" in Asia.

According to Chinese figures, trade reached US$3.2 billion last year, up 122 percent from the year before.

China mainly imported soybeans, bean oil, crude oil, leather and steel from Argentina, and exported computer, life science products, bulbs and motorcycles, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Kirchner visited China earlier this year, during which the two sides signed a number of agreements on civil aviation, public health, culture, investment and agriculture.

Hu began his state visit to Argentina on Tuesday morning, the first since he became president last year. It is the second leg of his Latin American tour, with his state visit to Brazil concluded. He will later visit Chile and Cuba.

(Xinhua News Agency November 17, 2004)