On June 4th, Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), had a telephone conversation at request via video link with José Luis Gioja, President of the Justicialist Party and Vice President of the Chamber of Deputies of Argentina.

Song said that China and Argentina are comprehensive strategic partners, and the two countries enjoy a sound momentum of development. After the outbreak of COVID-19, President Xi Jinping and President Alberto Fernández have exchanged letters and the Justicialist Party has joined a joint appeal advocated by the CPC and more than 240 political parties around the world for carrying out closer international cooperation to combat COVID-19. Such gestures have fully demonstrated the profound friendship between the two Parties and the two countries that helps each other and shares weal and woe. At the moment, both countries have made significant outcomes in pandemic response, but the global fight against the virus is still at a critical stage. In his statement at the Virtual Event of Opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly, President Xi pointed out that the virus is the common enemy of all mankind, and solidarity and cooperation is our most powerful weapon for defeating the virus. China has always supported countries in pandemic containment in an open, transparent and responsible manner, and shared experience in prevention and control with all parties without reservation, making important contributions to the global fight against the disease. However, some Western countries attempt to politicize the pandemic and stigmatize China, which not only runs counter to scientific facts, but also hinders the international society’s efforts in defeating the virus. The Chinese side is prepared to work with all parties, including Argentina, to firmly safeguard multilateralism and join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Song also briefed on the just-concluded China’s Two Sessions as well as the decision adopted by the National People’s Congress on the national security legislation in Hong Kong and stressed that Hong Kong affairs are China’s internal affairs and brook no foreign interference. China has firmly adhered to the “one country, two systems” principle, and firmly safeguarded national security, which is conducive to the long-term stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and to helping Hong Kong better carry out exchanges and cooperation with all parties. The CPC is willing to enhance mutual learning of experience in state governance and party governance with the Justicialist Party in the context of routine COVID-19 response arrangements, consolidate the political foundation of the China-Argentina comprehensive strategic partnership, and push the building of respective Parties and national development for new progress.

Gioja congratulated China on the major strategic achievements it has made in COVID-19 response and on the CPC’s upcoming 99th anniversary of its founding. Gioja expressed that the Justicialist Party thanks the CPC for timely providing anti-pandemic materials and assistance to the Argentina side through party-to-party channels and for sharing experience in pandemic prevention and control and the resumption of the work and production. Appreciating China’s active promotion of international cooperation against the virus, the Justicialist Party is willing to join efforts with the Chinese side to support the World Health Organization in continuing leveraging its role, and build a multilateral world. The Argentine side is saddened by the frequent violent incidents in Hong Kong in the previous period and will abide by the one-China principle, firmly support the “one country, two systems” principle and firmly oppose foreign interference in China's internal affairs. Gioja expressed the Argentine government’s strong willingness to beef up friendly cooperation with China, and the Justicialist Party’s hope to intensify party-to-party exchanges with the CPC, so as to boost cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and advance the relations between the two Parties and the two countries.

Li Jun, IDCPC Vice-minister, and Jorge Taiana, Secretary of International Relations of the Justicialist Party and former Foreign Minister, attended the event.

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