China and Argentina have decided to establish and develop a "strategic partnership," Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Argentine counterpart Nestor Kirchner said Tuesday in Buenos Aires.

Hu, beginning his first state visit to Argentina on Tuesday, held talks with Kirchner on Tuesday afternoon, the second time they met in a year. The Argentine president visited China in June this year.

"We have decided to establish and develop strategic partnership and our friendly ties will grow comprehensively on a new basis," Hu told the press after the talks.

The term of "strategic partnership" was the latest definition of the bilateral relations. Previously, it was called "full-range cooperative partnership."

China and Argentina signed five agreements Tuesday on expanding cooperation in fields of space technology, education, tourism, railways and trade.

President Kirchner told Hu that Argentina was grateful to China for its support and assistance when Argentina was in time of need. He also stressed that his government will firmly support China's stance on the issue of Taiwan.

During the meeting, the two presidents agreed to increase political trust through more exchanges of personnel, expand economic cooperation and trade, increase educational and tourist exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in international affairs.

They also agreed to expand cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry, manufacturing, mineral resources, energy, transportation and telecommunications.

"We are satisfied with the result of today's meeting," said the Chinese president.

China and Argentina established diplomatic relations in 1972. The two nations signed several cooperation documents on civil aviation, public health, culture, investment and agriculture during President Kirchner's trip to China earlier this year.

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

Bilateral trade reached 3.2 billion US dollars last year, up 122 percent from the previous year. China mainly imports soybean, bean oil, crude oil, leather and steel from Argentina, and exports computer, life science products, bulb and motorcycles, according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

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.