Argentine President to Visit China

Argentine President Cristina Kirchner will travel to Beijing next month, reciprocating a visit from her Chinese counterpart, an official said Friday.

The visit comes with the two nations trying to strengthen bilateral ties, presidential chief of staff Jorge Capitanich said.

Kirchner's trip was agreed to Friday in a meeting of the two countries' foreign ministers on the sidelines of summit between Latin American and Caribbean countries and China.

Chinese President Xi Jinpin visited Argentina last year.

China, expanding its business presence in Latin America at breakneck pace, has a total of $23 billion invested in Argentina. The money has gone toward energy, mining, the financial sector and farm exports.

Last year a transaction called a currency swap with China provided $11 billion for Argentina's depleted treasury reserves.

Kirchner, 61, has been recovering since breaking her ankle the day after Christmas.

The injury has forced her to cancel several trips including one to the Vatican.