CHINA and Argentina yesterday signed 18 agreements, including a joint statement, in Beijing as Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is making the first trip to China by an Argentine president since 2004.

Chinese President Hu Jintao and Kirchner witnessed the signing of 12 deals covering areas such as transport infrastructure, fishery, energy, plant quarantine and freight rail line.

The agreements included cooperation between Chinese oil producer Sinopec and Argentina's state-operated energy company Enarsa. No further details were given.

The Argentines had said they would sign some US$10 billion in cooperation agreements and trade deals with China involving various industries.

Earlier yesterday, Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu and Kirchner also attended the signing ceremony at which the two countries inked six contracts on areas, including railway technology, and electrification of rail lines.

According to the contracts, China will provide an export buyer's credit to Argentina on locomotive purchase.

The two countries will also cooperate in Argentina's construction of light rail system, subway building and electrification of rail lines.

Kirchner called on Chinese and Argentine business communities to make joint efforts to boost bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Kirchner said at a China-Argentina business community luncheon in Beijing that the two countries enjoyed great potential in trade and economic cooperation.

She told about 100 business people at the event that the prospects of bilateral cooperation were bright as the two countries had economic complementarity and sound political relations.

Kirchner will also meet entrepreneurs from both countries tomorrow in Shanghai during a one-day stay in the city.