BUENOS AIRES, Jan. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- Argentine President Nestor Kirchner and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero signed the Declaration of Buenos Aires here Tuesday to improve the political and economic ties between the two nations.

    According to the officials here, the representatives of the two countries will further discuss the "Strategic Partnership Initiative," which the two leaders put forward within the framework of the bilateral meeting held at the seat of the Argentine government.

    Earlier in an official text, the Spain government "highly values the efforts" carried out by President Kirchner "to reach a solution to the issue of the Argentine public debt."

    Zapatero, on his first visit to South America since taking office last year, arrived in Argentina on Tuesday noon after visiting Brazil from Sunday, and he will fly to Chile on Wednesdayto meet with President Ricardo Lagos in Santiago. Enditem