Defense minister Arturo Puricelli says cooperation agreements that he signed with Chinese Defense Minister Liang Guanglie will strengthen ties between the Asian giant and Argentina.

He calls China an economic, political and military partner and says the two countries' strategic positions in terms of international security are almost entirely consistent.

Argentina's defense ministry says in a Wednesday statement that Puricelli also has visited Chinese defense contractors, viewing helicopters at one and guided weapon systems and anti-aircraft artillery at another.

Chinese state-run media in Beijing have reported on the visit and say China wants to expand military cooperation with Argentina.