Economy of China

Water gushes out from the Xiaolangdi Reservoir on the Yellow River during a sand-washing operation in Mengjin County, central China's Henan Province, June 20, 2012. The Yellow River has been plagued by an increasing amount of mud and sand. Each year, the river bed rises as silt deposits build up, slowing the water flow in the lower reaches. The Xiaolangdi Reservoir in the middle reach of the Yellow River has experienced sand-washing operation for 13 times since 2002 and succeeded in clearing out the silt deposits at the dam and washing 762 million metric tons of mud and sand into the sea. The sand-washing operation of the Yellow River this year started on June 19 and will last for about 20 days. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, in the company of Julian Dominguez, speaker of Argentina's lower house, and Agriculture Minister Norberto Yauhar, visits a farm near Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 24, 2012. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao vowed on Sunday to boost agricultural cooperation with Argentina so as to enrich the bilateral strategic partnership.
Wen made the pledge during a meeting with Argentine agricultural officials and representatives at a farm near the capital Buenos Aires.
Both China and Argentina are large agricultural countries, with each boasting different competitive advantages, said Wen.
He pointed out that the two countries' agriculture industries are highly complementary, given Argentina's rich resources, advanced technologies and China's huge market potential.
Bilateral agricultural trade was about 5.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2011, and most were exports from Argentina to China, according to Chinese customs figures.
China is ready to expand agricultural trade with Argentina, and increase mutually-beneficial cooperation in the investment, infrastructure and research in the agriculture sector, Wen said.
The Argentine officials and representatives said, Wen's visit will give a powerful boost to bilateral ties, especially cooperation between the agricultural sectors.
The visit will also bring more tangible benefits for both countries and further consolidate bilateral friendship, they said.
Wen arrived here on Saturday for his first official visit to the South American state.