Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has met with counterparts from Argentina, Peru and Bolivia in the past week, as Beijing intensifies efforts to court Latin American countries through its Belt and Road infrastructure-building initiative.

Wang met with Argentine Foreign Minister Diana Mondino in Beijing on Tuesday, the Chinese Foreign Ministry reported. This is the first trip by Argentina’s top diplomat to China since President Javier Milei took office in December.

Wang urged greater aerospace and maritime cooperation and bilateral trade to advance the international Belt and Road Initiative. China supports Argentina’s efforts to maintain economic and financial stability, and is willing to continue providing assistance within its capacity, he said.

Amid protracted tensions with the U.S., China looks to diversify its partners in trade and investment. U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has raised concern over excess production of electric vehicles in China and is weighing additional trade tariffs.

Milei, who is a libertarian, said during his 2023 campaign that he would not work with communists, signaling that he intended to keep a distance from China. After taking office, he withdrew Argentina’s planned entry into the BRICS club of nations, made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

But Argentina relies heavily on China economically. Around 20% of Argentine imports in 2023 came from China, more than from any other country except neighboring Brazil. China was also Argentina’s third-largest destination for exports.

Mondino told Wang that Argentina’s friendly policy toward China will not change. She signaled an interest in bilateral cooperation on trade and investment, finance, tourism, space and maritime issues. She also urged greater investment in Argentina by Chinese companies.

In addition to Wang, Mondino spoke with senior officials from China’s National Development and Reform Commission, which steers economic policy, and the Chinese Commerce Ministry.

She also met with top executives from Huawei Technologies and China Machinery Engineering Corp. (CMEC), encouraging them to invest in Argentina.

China and Argentina must maintain win-win cooperation with an eye on the future, Wang said at a news conference after meeting Mondino.

He said China will pursue an equal and orderly multipolar world in partnership with South American countries.

Wang also met with Bolivian Foreign Minister Celinda Sosa Lunda on Sunday and Peruvian Foreign Minister Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea Franco on Monday in Beijing. The diplomats discussed cooperation on infrastructure development under Belt and Road and the digital economy.