Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Buenos Aires Tuesday to begin his first state to Argentina which he hopes will "enrich the content of China-Argentina full-range cooperative relations."

Chinese President Hu Jintao (front R) reviews a guard of honor in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 16, 2004. Hu Jintao arrived here Tuesday for a two-day state visit to Argentina.

Hu will meet with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and parliamentary leaders of Argentina during his stay in the country. They are expected to discuss bilateral political ties and economic cooperation.

"China attaches great importance to its relations with Argentina, and is ready to work with the Argentine side to enrich its full-range cooperative relations," Hu said in a written speech upon arrival at the airport.

China and Argentina established full diplomatic relations in 1972. President Kirchner visited China earlier this year and the two sides signed a number of cooperative documents in areas of civil aviation, public health, culture, investment and agriculture.

The two sides are expected to sign a number of new cooperative documents during Hu's visit to Argentina.

Argentina is China's fourth largest trading partner in Latin America. Two-way trade reached 3.176 billion US dollars 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, bulb and motorcycles, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese president ends state visit to Brazil

Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday ended his five-day state visit to Brazil and left for Argentina to continue his four-nation Latin American trip.

During his stay in Brazil, President Hu held talks with his Brazilian counterpart Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and met other leaders of the country. They exchanged views on deepening bilateral cooperation and the two sides signed a number of cooperation agreements.

Hu also visited Brazil's largest city, Sao Paulo, and the second largest city, Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil is China's major trading partner in Latin America. Last year, trade between the two countries amounted to 7.98 billion US dollars, a 78 percent increase over the previous year. During the first eight months of this year, the bilateral trade volume reached 8 billion dollars.

Brazil is the first leg of Hu's four-nation Latin American trip. He will also visit Chile and Cuba. In Chile, Hu will attend the Economic Leaders' Meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) slated for Nov. 20-21.

Backgrounder: Major events in China-Argentina relations

On Feb. 19, 1972, China and Argentina established diplomatic relations.

In 1977, the two governments signed their first trade agreement.

In 1978, the two governments signed two agreements on maritime transport and on scientific and technological cooperation.

In 1980, Argentine President Jorge Rafael Videla visited China. The two governments signed the Agreement on Economic Cooperation.

In 1984, the two governments signed the Agreement on Cooperation in the Peaceful Utilization of Nuclear Energy.

In 1988, Argentine President Raul Ricardo Alfonsin visited China. The two governments signed the Agreement on Cooperation in Antarctic, the Agreement on Cooperation in the Research and Application of Astronautic Science and the Agreement on Animal Quarantine and Health Cooperation.

In 1990, Chinese President Yang Shangkun visited Argentina, and Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem visited China. The two governments signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Political Consultation Mechanism and the Agreement on Promoting the Establishment of Joint Ventures.

In 1994, Qiao Shi, chairman of the Standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) and Hu Jintao, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC)and Secretary of the CPC Secretariat, visited Argentina.

In 1995, Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem visited China. The two governments signed the Agreement on Mutual Establishment of Consulates General.

In 1997, the Agreement on Cooperation between Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China and Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Argentina was signed.

In 2000, Argentine President Fernando de la Rua paid a state visit to China. The two governments signed the Bilateral Agreement on China's Entry into the WTO and the Agreement on Technological Cooperation in the Field of Geo-science.

In 2001, Chinese President Jiang Zemin and Chairman of the NPC Standing Committee Li Peng visited Argentina. The two governments signed the Agreement on Bio-engineering and Bio-safety and the Agreement on Legal Assistance in Civil and Commercial Affairs.

By the end of 2002, 28 Chinese enterprises had been registered in Argentina with a total investment of 11.24 million US dollars, and Argentina had invested in 279 projects in China with a total actual investment of 68.96 million dollars.