Visiting Spanish minister vows to promote Spain-Argentina ties

Trinidad Jimenez, visiting Spanish minister for Ibero-American affairs, pledged to promote Spanish-Argentine relations at a press conference on Tuesday.

Jimenez, who arrived in Argentina on Saturday from Colombia, described the relationship between the two countries as "extraordinary in all fields, political and economic."

Spain and Argentina have a great relationship, Jimenez said, and agreed to further strengthen it.

Spain will work on promoting talks between Uruguay and Argentina about their dispute over paper plants built on the Uruguayan side of the Uruguay River, which forms their border, Jimenez said, adding that officials from the two countries will meet in a few days in New York.

Jimenez also cheered the possible presidential candidacy of Sen. Cristina Fernandez, the wife of Argentina's president Nestor Kircnher, in the nation's October elections.

Fernandez is a "very respected and valued" political person in Spain, Jimenez added.

"I have a several-year-long relationship with her and I esteem her a great deal politically," said Jimenez, adding that "as a woman she has been a model and a reference point."

Jimenez has already met with Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana, and Argentine cabinet chief, Alberto Fernandez.

Source: Xinhua