- Javier Miley, the Argentine right-wing liberal, was strongly critical of China during his election campaign, and pledged to freeze relations with one of Argentina’s most important trading partners.
- The president-elect said that Argentina would no longer work with “communist” regimes.
- “It would be a grave foreign policy mistake for Argentina to cut ties with major countries like China or Brazil,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning said on Tuesday.
Argentine presidential candidate for La Libertad Avanza Javier Miley speaks to supporters after winning the runoff in the presidential election at his party headquarters in Buenos Aires on November 19, 2023.
Luis Rubaio | AFP | Getty Images
China issued a warning to Argentina on Tuesday that severing ties with Buenos Aires would be a “serious foreign policy mistake,” shortly after right-wing libertarian candidate Javier Miley won the second round of presidential elections in the South American country.
Milley, who on Sunday easily defeated Peronian Economy Minister Sergio Massa, strongly criticized China during her election campaign and vowed to freeze ties with one of Argentina’s most important trading partners.
The president-elect said that Argentina would no longer work with “communist” regimes. It said He likened the Beijing government to a “murderer” and said that the people of China “are not free.” Miley’s four-year term will begin on December 10.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning He said He said on Tuesday that bilateral relations had shown “sound momentum,” adding that Beijing was “ready to work with Argentina to keep our relations on a stable path.”
“No country can exit diplomatic relations and still be able to engage in economic trade and cooperation,” Mao said.
“It would be a grave mistake in Argentina’s foreign policy to sever its relations with major countries such as China or Brazil. China is an important trading partner for Argentina. The newly elected Argentine government values its relations with China, especially the trade relations between the two countries.”
Diana Mondino, an economist nominated to become foreign minister in Miley’s administration, was quoted on Monday as saying that Argentina would stop doing business with the governments of Brazil and China, according to Russia’s state-run news agency. RIA Novosti news agency.
Mondino was asked whether Argentina would continue to encourage imports and exports with its major trading partners.
Asked about Mondino’s comments, Chinese President Mao said: “The economic integration between our two countries means that there is great potential for cooperation.”
The incoming Argentine government’s views on China appear to reflect a stark change from the outgoing Alberto Fernandez administration, with Fernandez describing China as “real friendDuring a visit to Beijing last month.
Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Argentine President Alberto Fernandez at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Fernandez is in Beijing to attend the Third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
Xinhua News Agency | Xinhua News Agency | Getty Images
Fernandez also pledged to enhance cooperation within the framework of the cooperation mechanism between the G20 and BRICS.
The BRICS alliance currently consists of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.
Argentina was recently among six countries invited to join the coalition, along with Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
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