A New, Pragmatic Javier Milei Meets Chinese President XI Jinping at G20 Summit, Vows To Boost Trade Between Argentina and the Asian Giant
Despite his over-the-top antics during the Presidential campaign, Argentina’s Javier Milei has given plenty of indications that he will rule in a pragmatic way, keeping his country’s interests at the forefront of his agenda.
Yes, Javier Milei did declare that Argentina would not ‘make deals with communists’ in China, but he did that in a bid to channel the populist energies of Donald Trump and others around the world and turn them into a winning political message.
Associated Press reported:
“But Tuesday, President Milei found himself at the Group of 20 summit in Rio de Janeiro shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping and vowing to boost trade with the Asian powerhouse. […]
The final moments of the summit revealed Milei’s more pragmatic streak, coming as a surprise after the irascible president sought to undercut various international initiatives — withdrawing Argentine negotiators from the U.N. climate summit, casting the only “no” votes on two U.N. resolutions, one supporting Indigenous rights and another advocating for an end to violence against women, and roiling negotiations at the G20 summit.”
As Milei rose to power, Argentina reshaped its foreign policy in a similar fashion to those of its allies in Italy and in Israel.
“In the past few days, Argentine resistance to the joint G20 communiqué focused on clauses related to the taxation of the super-rich and regulation of online speech, diplomats said. Argentine delegates also sought to block language about gender equality and references to the U.N. 2030 agenda on sustainable development, which Milei has decried as socialist.”
Milei’s critics – and there are so many – say the Argentine president was a saboteur at Rio’s G20.
Milei aired his objections to the G20 globalist declaration, but he eventually signed onto it due to enormous international pressure.
“During Milei’s first-ever meeting with Xi on Tuesday, the leaders discussed their ‘current trade and financial ties’ and ‘desire to continue exploring new opportunities to expand and improve’, the Argentine presidency said in a statement, along with a photo of the presidents sharing a warm handshake. It said the leaders had invited each other to visit.”
As an agrarian country, Argentina is highly reliant on China as a market for its soybeans and other crops.
Milei won’t let relations with its second-largest trading partner go to waste.
“China has maintained strategic assets in Argentina, including stakes in lithium mines and a space station in Patagonia. Earlier this year, former Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, whom Milei recently fired, led a successful visit to China to patch up relations strained by Milei’s colorful insults”
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