Chinese President Hu Jintao (front R) reviews a guard of honor in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 16, 2004. Hu Jintao arrived here Tuesday for a two-day state visit to Argentina. (Xinhua Photo)

    BUENOS AIRES, Nov. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- China and Argentina signed five agreements here Tuesday that will allow them to expand cooperation in the areas of trade, space, education, tourism and railways.

    Chinese and Argentine ministers signed the agreements after visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao held talks with Argentine President Nestor Kirchner.

    "We have reached wide-ranging consensus on bilateral cooperation and international issues of mutual concerns," Hu told the press after the talks.

    China and Argentina reaffirmed to develop a "strategic partnership" and support each other on major issues like territorial integrity, Hu said.

    The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in the areas of agriculture and animal husbandry, mineral resources, energy, transportation and telecommunications.

    Hu began his state visit to Argentina on Tuesday morning, the first since he became president last year.

    President Kirchner said China has become Argentina's fourth largest trading partner and "best goods buyer" in Asia.

    Two-way trade reached 3.2 billion US dollars last year, up 122 percent from the year before, according to Chinese figures.

    China mainly imported soybean, bean oil, crude oil, leather andsteel from Argentina, and exported computer, life science products, bulb and motorcycles,  according to China's Ministry of Commerce.

    President Kirchner visited China earlier this year, during which the two sides signed a number of cooperation documents in the areas of civil aviation, public health, culture, investment and agriculture.

    China and Argentina established full diplomatic relations in 1972. Enditem