2月6日，國家主席習近平在北京會見阿根廷總統費爾南德斯，雙方不僅簽署了關於深化全面戰略夥伴關係的聯合聲明，還簽署了共建「一帶一路」諒解備忘錄，這些文件的內容，對中阿兩國的關係有重大的影響。
聯合聲明的重點，包括2022年至2027年農業合作的戰略行動計劃，開展農業生物產業和投資等方面的對話、行動和創新合作。此外，雙方還從戰略角度加強核能合作，鼓勵發展核醫學和放射性同位素及其他核術領域的新項目，並重申願在2021－2025中阿航天合作大綱框架下繼續加強合作。
同時，雙方還簽署了綠色發展、數字經濟、航天、北斗導航、科技創新、教育及大學合作、農業、地球科學、公共傳媒、核醫學等領域合作文件，雙方將繼續推動包括維和與軍事學術在內的防務、文化、教育、旅遊和體育等各領域交流合作。
雙方又強調在中阿政府間常設委員會框架下設立海洋、南極和養護分委會所做工作，這體現雙方在海洋、海洋資源養護和南極領域的合作。
中阿兩國重申將在涉及彼此主權利益的問題上，繼續相互堅定支持。阿方重申堅持「一個中國」原則，中方重申支持阿方在馬爾維納斯群島（即英國所稱的福克蘭群島）問題上完全行使主權的要求，以及根據聯合國相關決議，盡快重啟談判以期和平解決爭端。
聯合聲明還表示，中阿一致認同，二十國集團作為國際經濟合作主要論壇的重要意義。雙方強調，通過二十國集團財金渠道加強對重要議題的溝通，推動新冠肺炎疫情下可持續和平衡的經濟復甦，加強協調以盡快結束疫情。
參觀中共黨史館
2月5日，費爾南德斯總統參觀了中國共產黨歷史展覽館，他「向中國共產黨為中國人民所做的一切和取得的偉大成就表示崇高敬意」。
中阿兩國簽署諒解備忘錄，推進絲綢之路經濟帶和21世紀海上絲綢之路建設，為可持續發展和雙邊經濟合作奠定堅實基礎。未來幾年，兩國之間的貿易關係和經濟多元化將得到加強。
習近平在會見費爾南德斯時強調，中方願同阿方在聯合國、二十國集團等框架內密切配合，踐行真正的多邊主義，完善全球治理，共同推進全球發展倡議。他祝賀阿方接任拉共體（拉美和加勒比海國家共同體）輪值主席國，願同阿方一道，推進中拉論壇建設，攜手構建中拉「命運共同體」。
歡迎中企投資阿根廷
對此，費爾南德斯表示，阿方將繼續積極參與共建「一帶一路」合作，歡迎更多中國企業赴阿根廷投資。阿方願在國際多邊框架內同中方密切配合，踐行多邊主義，為促進拉共體同中國合作發揮更大作用。
雙方同意擴大雙邊貿易範圍，阿方將通過對出口賬戶結算的財政和貨幣支持，幫助中國促進對阿根廷出口。阿方提出希望在中國四川省成都市設立總領館，工作範圍覆蓋四川省、貴州省、陝西省、雲南省和重慶市，藉此深化雙邊合作，中方對此表示歡迎。
中國重視與阿根廷關係
中國和阿根廷的聯合聲明和兩國達成的諒解備忘錄具有重要意義。
一是中國高度重視與阿根廷的關係，近年來，兩國經濟、軍事、航天等合作項目發展迅速。2021年12月，阿根廷和中國同意在建設內烏肯深空監測站上密切合作，並在阿根廷興建一座核電站。
中國決定加強在內烏肯市阿根廷深空監測站的研究，該站支持嫦娥五號的登月任務，中國成功地將土壤和岩石樣本送回地球。為了更深入地了解月球，兩國同意進行研究和進一步的實驗。因此，兩國的太空合作計劃在技術上意義重大。兩國將深化在空間科學、地球觀測、衛星數據開發、人力資源培訓等領域的合作。
有助人民幣國際化進程
第二，中國努力踐行多邊主義，積極參與區域經濟組織。因此，中國通過南方共同市場和中國─拉共體直接與阿根廷進行接觸，具有政治和經濟上的深遠意義。儘管據報阿根廷與南方共同市場的一些成員國在對外關稅問題上存在分歧，但中國與南方共同市場的接觸有助於中國與拉美國家建立更密切的經濟關係。阿根廷提出通過金融和貨幣賬戶結算，幫助促進中國出口的提議，有助於人民幣國際化進程──這正是中國熱衷於推動的長期進程。
互相支持主權主張
第三，從分析的角度看，聯合聲明的內容突出了政治利益的交換。阿根廷支持「一個中國」原則，而中國則支持阿根廷對馬爾維納斯群島的主權主張。英國外相卓慧思隨即在2月7日表示「中國必須尊重（英國對）福克蘭群島的主權」。 中阿聯合聲明表達雙方主權利益的方式，有趣地與最近的中俄聯合聲明相似，在該聯合聲明中，俄羅斯也支持「一個中國」原則，而中國則含蓄地支持俄羅斯在烏克蘭問題上的立場。
兩國加強軍事合作
第四是兩國軍事合作必將進一步加強。2021年10月，國務委員兼國防部長魏鳳和上將與阿根廷國防部長塔亞納（Jorge Taiana ）視頻通話，雙方就加強抗疫合作、高層互訪、人員培訓、衛勤醫療、國際維和等領域務實合作。連同太空合作，中阿兩國的軍事合作將具有戰略和國家安全意義。
共同抗疫鞏固外交
第五，隨着全球安全包括公共衛生，阿根廷與中國在抗擊新冠病毒及其變種（如 Omicron）的傳播方面，開展更密切的合作具有重要的社會意義。2021 年 7 月，阿根廷衛生部發現國藥集團開發的新冠病毒疫苗在防止死亡方面的有效率為84%。因此，2021年 10 月，阿根廷批准為 3 至 11 歲兒童緊急接種國藥疫苗。與新冠疫情的戰鬥和中國疫苗的有效性鞏固了中阿關係。
一帶一路的拉美中堅
第六，阿根廷參與「一帶一路」倡議將實現互利共贏。阿根廷將獲得至少237億美元的中國融資，其中140億美元已被指定用於各種基礎設施項目。另一方面，中國的「一帶一路」倡議可以在拉美取得新的突破，人民幣國際化可以進一步加快和深化。
總而言之，中阿兩國在經濟、太空探索、教育交流、科研、軍事、主權利益主張等各個方面加強合作。從雙邊投資到抗擊新疫情，從多邊主義到與區域組織的積極接觸，雙方關係進入前所未有密切的新階段。
Sino-Argentinian Joint Statement and its implications
On February 6, the Chinese President Xi Jinping met the Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez in Beijing and both sides signed not only a Joint Statement on the deepening of their comprehensive partnership for the coming 50 years, but also a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative – documents whose content has significant implications for the relations between China and Argentina.
The key areas of the Joint Statement include mutual agricultural cooperation from 2022 to 2027, enhancing dialogue, action and innovative development in the realms of agricultural and biological production and investment. Moreover, both sides enhance nuclear energy cooperation in a strategic manner, encouraging the development of nuclear medical science and the exchange of radioactive nuclear technology so that the space programs of the two countries will be strengthened from 2021 to 2025. At the same time, Argentina and China signed a series of cooperative agreements over green development, digital economy, aviation, aerospace, BeiDou Navigation Satellite System, high-tech innovation, education, earth science, public media, cooperation between universities, peacekeeping mission, military and defense collaboration, sports and tourism. Finally, both sides emphasize the importance of setting up regular committees to oversee developmental issues, including the protection of the Southern Ocean and the preservation of ocean resources
Both sides affirmed their mutual support of their sovereign interests. Argentina will continue to adhere to the one-China principle, while China continues to back up Argentina’s demand for the full exercise of its sovereignty over the Malvinas Islands and the resumption of negotiations to bring about a peaceful settlement of the sovereignty dispute over the Islands in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations.
The Joint Statement also says that both sides agree that G20 constitutes an important forum for international economic cooperation, and that such a forum would need to strengthen cooperation and communication in monetary and financial exchange, and that it should promote global economic recovery and sustainable development under the condition of controlling the spread of Covid-19 and its variants.
On February 5, President Fernandez visited to the Museum of the Communist Party of China (CPC), “paying high tribute to the CPC for all it has done and the great achievements it has made for the Chinese people” (Global Times, February 6, 2022).
Argentina and China signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21stCentury Maritime Silk Road, laying down a firm foundation for sustainable development and mutual economic cooperation. Trade relations and economic diversification are going to be enhanced between the two countries in the coming years.
During the meeting with President Fernandez, President Xi emphasized that China is willing to cooperate closely with Argentina in the United Nations and G20 to implement multilateralism, improve global governance, and strive for global sustainability (Wen Wei Po, February 7, 2022, p. A13). President Xi congratulated Argentina for being the presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercusor) in which Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay are the full members. President Xi added that China is keen to promote the China-CELAC and “the common destiny for the mankind.”
In response, President Fernandez affirmed the need for both countries to enhance cooperation in all areas mentioned in the Joint Statement, while welcoming China to invest more in Argentina. He remarked that Argentina works closely with China to implement multilateralism and promote “the common destiny for the mankind.”
Both sides agree to expand the scope of bilateral trade, while Argentina would help China promote its exports to Argentina through its financial and monetary support of the export account settlement. The Argentinian side hopes that a consulate can be established in Sichuan province so that its work will cover the Guizhou province, Shaanxi province, Yunnan province and Chongqing city, thereby deepening bilateral cooperation – an expectation that China expresses its support.
The Sino-Argentinian Joint Statement and the agreements reached by both countries have important implications.
First, China attached immense importance to its relations with Argentina and their economic, military and space development projects have been expanding rapidly in the recent years. In December 2021, Argentina and China agreed to work closely on the Neuquen space station and to develop a nuclear power plant in Argentina. China decided to enhance its research at the CLTC-CONAE Deep Space Station in the city of Neuquen, which supported the mission to the moon by the Chang’e 5 exploration where China was successful in returning the samples of soil and rocks to the earth. Both countries agreed to conduct research and further experiments for the sake of understanding the Moon deeper. As such, the space cooperation plans for both countries are technologically significant. Both countries will deepen cooperation in space science, earth observation, satellite data development and human resource training.
Second, China is very keen to implement multilateralism and engage with regional economic organizations. As such, the Chinese engagement with Argentina through the Southern Common Market indirectly and China-CELAC directly is economically and politically significant. Although Argentina has reportedly opinion difference with some member states in the Southern Common Market over the issue of external tariffs, the Chinese engagement with the Southern Common Market can help China foster closer economic relations with Latin American states. The offer of Argentina to help promote China’s exports through the financial and monetary account settlement can help the process of internationalization of Renminbi – a long-term process that the Chinese are keen to foster.
Third, the exchange of political interests is prominent in the content of the Joint Statement from an analytical perspective. While Argentina supports the one-China principle, China backs up Argentina in the latter’s sovereignty claim over the Malvinas Islands. Immediately, the British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said on February 7 that “China must respect the Falklands’ sovereignty” (The Guardian, February 7, 2022). The way in which the Sino-Argentinian Joint Statement expressed the sovereignty interests of both sides was interestingly similar to that of the most recent Sino-Russian Joint Declaration in which Russia also supports the one-China principle whereas China implicitly supports Russia’s position on Ukraine.
Fourth, the military cooperation between the two countries is destined to enhance further. In October 2021, the Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister General Wei Fenghe discussed with the Argentinian Defense Minister Jorge Taiana through a video meeting in which both sides were determined to consolidate anti-epidemic cooperation and enhance high-level military exchanges, personnel training, medical care and international peacekeeping. Together with space cooperation, the military collaboration between the two countries is going to have strategic and national security significance.
Fifth, as global security embraces public health, Argentina’s closer cooperation with China in the combat against the spread of Covid-19 and its variants like Omicron is socially significant. In July 2021, the Argentinian Health Ministry found that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm was 84 percent effective in the prevention of death. As such, in October 2021, Argentina approved the emergency use of Sinopharm vaccine for its children aged between three and eleven. The combat against Covid-19 and the effectiveness of the Chinese vaccines have cemented the Sino-Argentinian relations.
Sixth, the Argentinian participation in the Belt and Road Initiative is going to have mutual economic benefits. Argentina will receive Chinese financing for at least US$23.7 billion of which US$14 billion have already been earmarked for various infrastructure projects. On the other hand, China’s Belt and Road Initiative can have a new breakthrough in Latin American while its internationalization of Renminbi can be accelerated and deepened further.
In conclusion, the Sino-Argentinian relations have entered an unprecedentedly close and a new stage in which both sides are enhancing cooperation in all areas, ranging from economy to space exploration, from education exchange to scientific research, from military cooperation to the assertions on mutual sovereignty interests, from mutual investment to the fight against Covid-19, and from multilateralism to the active engagement with regional organizations.
原刊於澳門新聞通訊社（MNA）網站，本社獲作者授權轉載。
