Argentina and Spain relaunch their bilateral relationship

Argentine Foreign Minister Susana Malcorra today met with her Spanish counterpart, Mr. José Manuel García-Margallo, at the Palacio San Martín. Ms. Malcorra stated: “We have discussed all issues on our common agenda as well as current regional issues, and we have decided to relaunch the existing bilateral mechanisms that had been dormant for quite some time.”

Ms. Malcorra added that “the Political Forum will hold a meeting for the first time since 2011, in the second half of the year, and we will relaunch the mechanism for economic issues; also, we will foster business meetings with a precise agenda.”

Foreign Minister Malcorra explained: “Spain used to be the second largest direct investor in Argentina, but lately this trend has been reversed, so we have discussed an investment agenda. With the national infrastructure plan, we hope that Spain will reactivate its investment role.”

Foreign Minister Malcorra remarked that she extended a request to her Spanish counterpart for Argentina to host the next Congress of the Spanish Language, in 2018. Also, they discussed the Argentine claim regarding the Question of the Malvinas Islands and Argentina’s recent diplomatic achievement in terms of the expansion of its continental shelf.

Mr. García-Margallo expressed his gratitude for the honour awarded by Foreign Minister Malcorra on behalf of the Argentine Government for his contribution to the development of the relationship between Argentina and Spain, and he underscored the decision made by both countries to relaunch their Strategic Association Plan. “A joint economic forum will be held on 25 and 26 April, and we have also decided to hold meetings between our Governments along with companies from both countries,” Mr. García-Margallo explained. The Foreign Minister of Spain further assured that they discussed an “exchange of information with regard to drug trafficking.”

Mr. García-Margallo’s visit included a business forum organized by the Spain-Argentina Business Association, in which Ms. Malcorra also participated.

Press release No. 090/16.

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