‘China is just as important to South America as the US’: why Argentina is keen to start talks on free-trade agreement
Argentina’s ambassador to Beijing defends China’s global ambitions as he signals Latin American common market is keen to strengthen economic ties
Talks about a possible free-trade deal between China and South America’s major economies could start as early as next year, the Argentinian ambassador to China has said.
Beijing has been seeking closer ties with Latin America amid growing international scepticism about China’s expanding influence in the backyard of the United States.
But Diego Ramiro Guelar, Argentina’s ambassador to China, defended the scope of Beijing’s ambitions, telling the South China Morning Post that its investments were essential for his country as it was struggling to reform its isolated economy and regain access to the international capital market.
China’s increasing economic challenge to US dominance is particularly apparent in South America, which has traditionally been strongly influenced by Washington.
US concerns that it is losing influence on the continent were exacerbated last week after Donald Trump cancelled a planned visit to South America – his first as president – for the Summits of America meeting in Peru.
China is the main commercial partner of countries like Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay and Bolivia