从中国穿越地心旅行，我们会置身何地？

The antipodes of any place on the Earth is the point on the Earth’s surface which is diametrically opposite to it. Two points that are antipodal to each other are connected by a straight line running through the centre of the Earth.

Argentina officially joined the China-proposed BRI on the 50th anniversary of China-Argentina diplomatic ties last year, marked by President Alberto Fernandez’s visit to Beijing.

During the visit, the two countries signed a series of cooperation agreements spanning various fields, including green development, digital economy, aerospace, technological innovation, and agriculture.

Argentina and China have entered a “golden moment” of bilateral cooperation, one year after Argentina signed up for the Belt and Road Initiative, said Sabino Vaca Narvaja, Argentine ambassador to China.

The BRI has facilitated the realization of essential infrastructure projects in Argentina, such as dams in the south, photovoltaic parks, and railways, underscoring the deepening mutual relationship between the two nations, he said.

For a long time, energy shortage has been restricting the economic development of Argentina. Once the construction of Nestor Kirchner-Jorge Cepernic Hydroelectric Power Plant is completed, the average annual power generation is expected to reach 4.95 billion kilowatt-hours, which can cover the daily electricity consumption of 1.5 million Argentine families, and even allow for exporting electricity to neighboring countries. Also, the hydroelectric plant can cut almost $1.1 billion in oil and gas import expenses each year.

“In Argentina, we believe China is becoming a more important partner for infrastructure investment.” the ambassador said, “The BRI has allowed us to acquire the technologies that have greatly improved the quality of life of our citizens and the investments that can benefit future generations.” 

Trade between China and Argentina has surged, with bilateral trade reaching $21.36 billion in 2022, marking a remarkable year-on-year increase of 20 percent in exports and 19.6 percent in imports. Currently, Argentina ranks as China’s sixth-largest trading partner in Latin America, while China holds the position of Argentina’s second-largest global trading partner.

As of now, 21 countries in Latin America have joined the BRI, with China emerging as the region’s second-largest trading partner for 10 consecutive years. The initiative’s fundamental objective of fostering international trade and investment has fueled exponential growth, with bilateral trade between China and Latin America surpassing the $300-billion milestone in 2020.

According to an article published in the World Economic Forum, Latin America-China trade is expected to exceed $700 billion by 2035, more than twice as much as in 2020. China will approach, and could even surpass, the United States as Latin America’s top trading partner.

The Belt and Road Initiative has marked a significant turning point in the relationship between China and Latin America, ushering in a bonanza of development and growth that continues to strengthen ties between the two sides.