Argentina's newly-elected Vice President Julio Cesar Cobos met a Chinese envoy in Buenos Aires on Tuesday and said his new government is ready to strengthen scientific and technological cooperation with China.

Argentina's new government is well aware that scientific advances could play an important role in promoting the country's development, Cobos told Wan Gang, Chinese minister of Science and Technology.

Wan was here to attend the inauguration ceremony for Argentina's newly-elected President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner Monday.

Wan said the Chinese government attaches great importance to its relations with Argentina and is ready to further promote bilateral cooperation in such fields as politics, commerce, culture and science and technology.

Wan, who arrived here Sunday, also met Argentina's new Science Minister Lino Baranao for an exchange of views on ways of furthering scientific cooperation between the two countries.

(Xinhua News Agency December 13, 2007)