Kristina Kirhner met Dmitry Medvedev in Buenos Aires
14.04.2010
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Argentina Wednesday from a nuclear summit in Washington.
He and Kristina Kirchner inked deals on nuclear energy, trade, space, transportation and sports.
“The world has changed,” Kirchner said. “We are no longer a back yard of any state.”
Russia would offer to build its third-generation reactor with capacity of 1200 megawatts, but declined to give an estimate of the price if Moscow is awarded the contract.
“The price of one reactor for such a station begins at 4.5 billion dollars,” Kiriyenko said, adding that Argentina was looking to build two reactors.
“We expect the movement on this project will be dynamic and mutually beneficial,” Medvedev said.
A dinner in his honor was to be held at the opulent San Martin palace and crown Medvedev’s lightning trip to the country.
On Thursday, Medvedev travels to Brazil where he will join the leaders of Brazil, India and China in a second summit of the world’s major emerging economies known
collectively as the BRIC countries.
Russia hosted the first BRIC summit in the Urals city of Yekaterinburg last year.
The Russian leader is making his second trip to Latin America since he became president in 2008. In November that year, he made a four-nation trip to Peru, Brazil, Venezuela
and Cuba.
Argentina (1) -- Analyses -- 2010
More about the visit
14.04.2010
Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana told local radio the two countries would sign more than 10 agreements during Medvedev’s visit, which he said marked
“the first time in 125 years” of bilateral relations that a Russian head of state traveled to Argentina.
The Kremlin said in a statement that Russia was keen to diversify its trade with Argentina, which stood at just two billion dollars in 2008 and is largely limited to meat, fruit and mineral fertilizers.
Russia and Argentina are considering cooperation in oil and gas and shipbuilding, with Moscow also hoping to sell arms to Buenos Aires.
“Argentina remains one of our largest Latin American partners, and I am confident we will be able to fill the gaps which emerged due to global financial crisis through new projects,” Medvedev told the business leaders.
Argentina has expressed interest in Russia’s air defense systems and aviation aircraft as well as vessels and helicopters that could help the country with its Antarctic program, the Kremlin said.
Anatoly Isaikin, CEO of arms exporter Rosoboronexport, said he would sign the first defense contract to deliver two transport helicopters Mi-171s to help Argentina’s scientific research in the Antarctic.
The two countries are also considering cooperation in nuclear and space industries.
Bulgarian