Argentina strikes back Lacalle Pou: negotiations with China advance to join the BRICS

Amid high diplomatic tensions in Mercosur sparked by Uruguay’s decision to advance a unilateral free trade agreement with China, the administration of Xi Jinping reinforced the levels of diplomatic tension in the region with a gesture of political weight: the Chinese government has invited Argentina to assess its integration into the BRICS group including Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

In this context, the Argentine Ambassador in Beijing, Sabino Vaca Narvaja, was invited yesterday by the Chinese government to a day of debate of representatives of the BRICS held in the city of Xiamen, in the important province of Fujian, where it was analyzed the concrete possibility that the government of Alberto Fernndez will make diplomatic efforts to join as a full member to this group of countries of great political and economic weight in the world.

The BRICS represent around 42% of the world’s population, represent 23% of global GDP, own 30% of the planet’s territory, and handle 18% of total international trade.

Unlike a free trade agreement that Uruguay intends to seal with China, Argentina’s idea of ​​joining the BRICS This would not involve breaking lances with Mercosur, although it would allow the country to maintain close trade ties. with a block of countries that displace a good part of the world economy. The process of incorporating a new country into the BRICS is not automatic and must be accepted by all members.

Argentina’s decision to move forward in negotiations with the BRICS was discussed yesterday during Ambassador Vaca Narvaja’s meeting with China’s Minister of Industry and New Technologies. Xiao Jaqing. in the national pavilions of member countries and major Chinese enterprises participating in Fujian International Fair.

From Casa Rosada, they expressed to The chronicler that there is a political decision by Alberto Fernández to move forward in negotiations with China and the rest of its BRICS partners to start negotiations and be part of this bloc.

As we have learned, the strategy developed for Argentina’s entry into the BRICS is coordinated with the Argentine diplomatic representations headed by the Argentine ambassadors. Eduardo Zuain (Russia), Daniel Scioli (Brazil), Hugo gobi (India), Claudio Prez Paladino (designated in South Africa) and Narvaja cow (China). It seems, all design an intense work program coordinated with the national government. This initiative is in line with the trends emerging at the regional level.

“The Argentine Republic is getting closer to the BRICS by taking up the regional agenda led by the governments of Nstor and Cristina Kirchner, Ignacio Lula Da Silva and Dilma Roussef,” he said. The chronicler an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to add information on the diplomatic plans currently being deployed by Alberto Fernández.

During the last term of Cristina Kirchner Argentina had made substantial progress in the negotiations to become part of the BRICS as a full member. But once it comes Mauricio Macri in power this was rejected.

Apparently heThe governments of China and Russia reportedly ready to approve Argentina’s integration into the BRICS group and in the case of Brazil, the Argentine government will wait for the replacement of the presidency with a view to a possible return of Lula Da Silva to power.

Meeting of Vaca Narvaja with the Chinese government for the incorporation of Argentina into the BRICS It comes amid a strong regional tension in Mercosur that erupted yesterday with the decision of the Uruguayan government of Luis Lacalle Pou advance unilaterally in a free trade agreement with China.

The international fair in which Ambassador Vaca Narvaja participated was held within the framework of the “China International Fair for Investment & Trade” (CIFIT), the largest investment fair in all of China, attended by more than 1,000 companies, including 200 from abroad. The exhibition takes place from September 7 to 12, 2021 in Xiamen, Fujian Province.

Within the framework of this Fair, Argentina was specially invited to participate in the opening of the Forum “BRICS Partnership for the New Industrial Revolution”, which took place on September 7th.

According to the government, this invitation from the BRICS member countries underlines the desire to resume strengthening ties between these countries and Argentina, which reached its peak over the past decade and then lost its vigor. . In addition, explore the possibility of moving towards a possible incorporation of Argentina into the said group, as expressed at the time by the main authorities of the respective executives.