Argentine, Chinese presidents have phone talks on bilateral ties

Argentine President Nestor Kirchner called visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao on Wednesday night, congratulating him for his successful visit and exchanging views with him on bilateral relations.

During Hu's visit in the past two days, Kirchner said, he and Hu had full and in-depth exchanges of views on a wide range of issues.

With concerted efforts from both sides, cooperation agreements have been carried out, he said.

Kirchner, who called his country and China "good friends and partners," promised to vigorously promote the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Hu, for his part, spoke highly of the consensus reached between him and the Argentine president, and believed the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries will have far-reaching significance.

The signing of a memorandum of understanding on trade and investment and Argentina's recognition Wednesday of China's status as a market economy are a mutually beneficial and win-win outcome for both countries, Hu said.

Hu told Kirchner he is convinced that with efforts from both sides, the mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and Argentina will develop in an all-round and in-depth way.

Hu left Buenos Aires on Wednesday afternoon for Bariloche, in the southwest province of Rio Negro. During his meeting with governor of Rio Negro and mayor of Bariloche, Hu briefed them on his Argentine tour.

Hu arrived in Buenos Aires from Brazil on Tuesday for a state visit to Argentina, the second leg of his four-nation Latin American tour.