FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Brazil's Lula, ill with pneumonia, postpones China trip Today 10:05 Brazil's leader Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was due to head to China for key talks with President Xi Jinping, has indefinitely postponed his trip to recover from pneumonia.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Jorge Argüello: ‘Our top investor is the US, our leading trade partner is China’ 25-03-2023 07:00 Argentina’s ambassador to the United States talks superpowers and geopolitics, emerging economies, the US ‘grieta’ and bilateral relations with Washington. by Jorge Fontevecchia
KEY GEOPOLITICAL VISIT Seeking a reset, Brazil's Lula heads to China 24-03-2023 08:30 Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva begins a state visit to China this weekend, with the aim of reinforcing commercial relations and promoting a peace plan in Ukraine on the agenda.
WAR IN UKRAINE Putin says ready to discuss China's Ukraine plan at Xi talks 20-03-2023 15:12 President Vladimir Putin tells Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping that Russia was open to discussing China's proposals to end the fighting in Ukraine.
WORLD POLITICS Xi reboots statesman image in push to counter US on world stage 14-03-2023 12:41 Chinese premier is rebooting his image as a global statesman — and he’s already got a significant win under his belt.
world China's Xi handed historic third term as president 10-03-2023 12:06 Xi Jinping was handed a third term as Chinese president on Friday, capping a rise that has seen him become the country's most powerful leader in generations.
FOREIGN CRITICISM 'A pact with the devil': US congresswoman lets rip at Argentina, CFK over China ties 02-03-2023 14:22 Republican lawmaker María Elvira Salazar uses congressional hearing to slam ties between Buenos Aires and Beijing, declaring the United States can't have an ally that "manufactures and exports Chinese military aircraft and sells them to neighbours."
Beef Export Brazil suspends beef exports to China after mad cow case 23-02-2023 16:39 Brazil, the world’s biggest beef exporter, is halting exports of the red meat to China starting Thursday after confirming a case of the animal illness known as mad cow disease.
As I see it The great balloon scare 18-02-2023 06:50 All significant countries spy on one another, so it is hardly surprising that the Chinese dictatorship is busily collecting data about the US and the rest of the world, though it is a bit strange that it would use such a primitive device. by James Neilson
Future of BRICS bloc BRICS debates expansion as Iran, Saudi Arabia seek entry 15-02-2023 11:41 The proposal to expand BRICS will be one of the economic bloc’s main focuses this year, with Iran and Saudi Arabia among those who’ve formally asked to join.
POPULATION SWELLS India overtakes China in population 07-02-2023 09:49 The country led by Xi Jinping suffered its first population decline in 60 years and, in doing so, ceded first place in the global rankings.
EU-MERCOSUR TRADE DEAL EU, Mercosur accelerate trade deal against backdrop of Sino-American tussle 06-02-2023 10:44 For more than two decades, the European Union and Mercosur laboriously negotiated a trade deal they agreed but never signed. Now, both sides want to finalise it to create a necessary partnership amid the global dispute between the United States and China.
Diplomacy & Trade Lula in Uruguay: Meeting with Lacalle Pou and a wink to the opposition 25-01-2023 13:10 Brazilian president arrived in Montevideo on Wednesday to meet with Luis Lacalle Pou; Talks regarding the Mercosur trade bloc dominate, but Lula also delivers a nod to the country’s opposition by meeting major figures of the left.
LULA IN BUENOS AIRES Brazil to finance Argentine importers in bid to boost trade ties 23-01-2023 21:42 Loans to Argentine companies will be given by public and private banks in Brazil and covered by guarantees from both governments.
covid-19 in china Global alarm grows over China's Covid surge 29-12-2022 14:45 Hospitals across China have been overwhelmed by an explosion of infections following Beijing's decision to lift strict rules that had largely kept the virus at bay but tanked the economy and sparked widespread protests.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Look north or east? Argentina’s tilt in a bipolar world remains unclear 10-12-2022 04:07 Beijing’s massive economic promise continues to stymie Washington’s attempts at democratic coalition in the Americas. by Sam Forster
CHINA China moves to curb rare, nationwide protests 28-11-2022 13:47 Chinese security forces on Monday filled the streets of Beijing and Shanghai following online calls for another night of protests to demand political freedoms and an end to Covid lockdowns.
G20 leaders summit From hospital to bilateral with Xi – Alberto’s up-and-down day at the G20 16-11-2022 15:40 President Fernández had an eventful first day on Tuesday at the G20 Leaders Summit in Bali.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Argentina says China will increase swap line by US$5 billion 15-11-2022 21:36 China will increase its currency swap programme with Argentina by 35 billion yuan (US$5 billion), President Alberto Fernández tells reporters.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Fernández seeking more than words at bilateral with Xi Jingping 14-11-2022 14:37 During his upcoming bilateral meeting with the Chinese premier, Argentina’s president will seek better conditions in the use of currency swaps and be accompanied by Sergio Massa, who wants the relationship to stop being so unequal. by Rosario Ayerdi
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Alberto Fernández eyes progress in Bali at G20 summit 14-11-2022 13:37 Russia-Ukraine talks and IMF surcharges on the agenda for the president, who will attend event hosted by US leader Joe Biden and hold a bilateral meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jingping.
Bloomberg China set to buy Brazilian soymeal to diversify supplies 05-11-2022 08:41 China is preparing to import soybean meal from Brazil as part of broader efforts to diversify sources of the animal feed ingredient, ease a near-term supply shortage and curb inflation risks.
FOREIGN POLICY & DIPLOMACY Argentina abstains from UN vote on Xinjiang abuses debate 07-10-2022 00:06 UN Human Rights Council votes against holding a debate on alleged widespread abuses in China's Xinjiang region after intense lobbying by Beijing; Argentina abstains from ballot.
AGRICULTURE China scoops up cheaper Argentina soybeans as US harvest begins 21-09-2022 15:20 China, the world's biggest soybean importer, has greatly increased purchases from Argentina, just as US farmers begin to harvest their crop.
ENERGY & INFRASTRUCTURE China nuclear deal held up over Argentina’s reactor fuel demand 19-09-2022 09:35 Buenos Aires insists on the right to manufacture the fuel; Outcome of negotiations could weigh on global nuclear market.
And that reminds me… Thick as BRICS 03-09-2022 15:41 If the question of why Argentina should wish to join BRICS is extremely valid, so is the question of why BRICS should want to have us. by Michael Soltys
BLOOMBERG China steps up soybean buying from US, Brazil, Argentina 01-09-2022 01:49 China is stepping up soybean imports to meet rising demand ahead of a seasonally strong period for consumption.
COMMUNITY Taiwanese find their feet in Argentina 13-08-2022 12:21 Growing up in Taiwan and living abroad in recent years, I have discovered that the challenges posed only make Taiwanese people stronger. They are finding their way around diplomatically, economically, and culturally – even in Argentina. by Erica Wu
FOREIGN POLICY Fernández calls for Argentina's incorporation into the BRICS group 24-06-2022 13:15 BRICS members said in a declaration issued late Thursday that they "support talks between Russia and Ukraine" but did not lay out a pathway towards ending the war.
Summit of the Americas US opposes dictators? Yes! Except when it supports them 07-06-2022 14:44 Dictators are bad, except, well, when they're kind of OK: welcome to the moral gymnastics that Joe Biden is only the latest US president to embrace in a complicated world.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA UN human rights chief falls under wheels of China's propaganda machine 27-05-2022 08:37 Beijing has outwitted the United Nations' human rights chief on her visit to China, campaigners say.
HUMAN RIGHTS UN human rights chief Bachelet begins contentious China visit 23-05-2022 10:31 United Nations Michelle Bachelet begins controversial and long-anticipated visit to China, with a visit to the Xinjiang region where authorities stand accused of widespread violations on the agenda.
FEATURE China, US are in a space race to make billions from mining the moon's minerals 22-05-2022 14:03 The world’s top superpowers aren’t cooperating on rules of the road for extracting resources in outer space.
ECONOMY & FOREIGN POLICY Argentina moves closer to joining BRICS group 21-05-2022 12:00 China and Brazil support bid, according to reports; President Alberto Fernández says joining is chance to institutionalise “new world order based on development.”
As I see it What a Russian defeat could mean 21-05-2022 00:01 The Ukrainians are not the only ones who think Russia is heading for a historic defeat. Their opinion is shared by many in London and Washington. by James Neilson
As I see it The crystal balls are getting cloudier 30-04-2022 01:21 Not only Argentina but most other countries have to decide if it would be better for them to cultivate their relations with what could soon be the top superpower, or to assume that the US will recover from its self-inflicted internal woes. by James Neilson
Bloomberg Bioceres soars as China approves drought-resistant HB4 soy seeds 29-04-2022 13:46 Argentine biotechnology firm scores big win as China approves imports of the company’s HB4 drought-resistant soybean strain.
BLOOMBERG – INTERVIEW Stephen Kaplan: China faces ‘creditor trap’ in lending to Latin America 07-03-2022 08:00 China will be more cautious about extending loans to Latin American countries after difficulties securing repayment suggest it has sometimes fallen into a “creditor trap,” according to economist Stephen Kaplan.
ANALYSIS Overwhelming UN vote makes China’s Ukraine balancing act harder 03-03-2022 13:20 An overwhelming vote by the United Nations on a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may increase the pressure on China to take a clearer position on the issue.
BLOOMBERG How China beat out the United States to dominate South America 18-02-2022 22:29 It’s no secret that China has been pouring resources into South America this century, chipping away at the United States' historic dominance. But an important shift has gone largely unnoticed in the country's approach to the region: going local to expand and strengthen its financial grip.
EDITORIAL Of silk roads and sow’s ears 12-02-2022 09:51 The main lesson from the president’s Sino-Russian swing should be the need to separate international economic relations from domestic politics and even geopolitics in a multilateral world.
As I see it An innocent abroad: Alberto in Russia and China 12-02-2022 09:32 Alberto’s willingness to kowtow to Xi and heap praise on the Chinese Communist regime was by no means as ridiculous as some seem to think, but he could hardly have chosen a worse time in which to cold-shoulder the United States. by James Neilson
Politics Playing with fire 12-02-2022 09:27 Despite claims of an historical “Peronist third position,” the reality is Argentina has an impossible debt with the International Monetary Fund and it needs all the support it can get to restructure it. by Agustino Fontevecchia
AGRICULTURE Argentine biotech pushes for soy strain spurned by top buyer China 10-02-2022 20:57 Bioceres Crop Solutions Corp wants the government to approve large-scale production of its drought-tolerant soybeans even if China won’t give the green light.
DIPLOMATIC SPAT US congressman: ‘Argentina has lashed itself to Chinese Communist Party’ 08-02-2022 22:48 US lawmaker Matt Gaetz says “Argentina has lashed itself to the Chinese Communist Party” in the wake of last week's Belt and Road initiative announcement.
PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN TOUR President on IMF deal: ‘The majority of our political force will accompany us’ 08-02-2022 22:38 President grants Zoom interview to journalists from Barbados, the final stop of his foreign tour, offering a balance of his trip and revealing his conversation from Beijing with Cristina Fernández Kirchner. by Rosario Ayerdi
PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN TOUR Argentina joins China’s Belt and Road initiative, eyes US$23 billion investment 06-02-2022 08:28 President Alberto Fernández signs Argentina up to China’s sweeping global initiative; Final details discussed at bilateral meeting between Peronist leader and Chinese Premier Xi Jingping.
PRESIDENT'S FOREIGN TOUR Xi's Olympic diplomacy blitz nets Argentina for China's Belt and Road 06-02-2022 07:54 Chinese state broadcaster CCTV confirms Xi and Alberto Fernández have inked an agreement on "jointly promoting the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road," marking Argentina's entry into the initiative.
ALBERTO’S FOREIGN TOUR Alberto tells Putin: Argentina has to stop depending on IMF and US 04-02-2022 23:32 President's foreign tour to Moscow, Beijing and Barbados begins with a bang as opposition criticises “irresponsible” remarks to Russian leader.
nuclear deal Argentina signs agreement to build fourth nuclear power plant 04-02-2022 03:22 New nuclear power plant, Atucha III, requires an investment of more than US$8 billion and will create 7,000 new jobs, according to the government. Announcement made on eve of president’s visit to China.