Luo Gan, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), met in Buenos Aires Wednesday with Argentine Vice President and Senate President Daniel Osvaldo Scioli.

Luo, who started a goodwill visit here Monday, said Argentina is an important country in Latin America, and the CPC and Chinese government attaches great importance to the development of Sino-Argentine relations.

Luo pointed to the close high-level contacts and increasingly active exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two sides since the two countries forged diplomatic ties 33 years ago.

The successful exchange of visits between heads of state of the two countries in 2004 and their decision on building a bilateral strategic partnership mapped out the development direction of bilateral ties and were taken as an important milestone in the history of bilateral ties, noted Luo.

He said China and Argentina are both developing countries facing the task of developing the economy, safeguarding stability and improving people's lives, and it is in the common interests of the two countries and their peoples to further bilateral friendship and cooperation.

He also mentioned the sound consultations and close cooperation between the two sides in international affairs, and said the Chinese government appreciates Argentina's consistent support for China on such issues as Taiwan, Tibet and human rights.

Luo said he is convinced that with joint efforts, bilateral reciprocal cooperation in various fields will be further promoted.

On party-to-party relations, Luo said the CPC and the Partido Justicialista (PJ) of Argentina are both ruling parties shouldering the task of leading their peoples in national construction.

The CPC will further strengthen the relations between the two parties on the basis of the principles of independence, equality, mutual respect and non-interference in each other's internal affairs, said Luo.

He said the National People's Congress, China's top legislative body, will enhance exchanges and cooperation with the Argentine parliament so as to inject new vigor into the bilateral relationship.

Scioli said the exchange of visits between heads of state of the two countries and the agreements signed between the two sides in 2004 are of great significance for the two sides.

He spoke highly of China's economic growth and said China's development is an important opportunity for Argentina.

He reported that the Argentine government is making efforts to solve existing problems in economic and social development, and hopes to learn from China's experiences.

He also said that this visit is bound to promote the friendly exchanges between the two parties and the friendship and cooperation between the two countries.

Argentina is the first leg of Luo's visit to three Latin American countries. He is also scheduled to visit Uruguay and Cuba.

(Xinhua News Agency December 15, 2005)