Home / International Exchange / Sister-City / Córdoba Province, Argentina

Córdoba Province, Argentina

I. Introduction to Córdoba Province

Córdoba is a province in central Argentina, neighboring Catamarca and Santiago del Estero to the north, La Pampa to the south, Buenos Aires to the southeast, and San Luis and La Rioja to the west. Covering an area of approximately 165,300 square kilometers, Córdoba is the fifth largest province among 23 provinces in Argentina. Beyond that, it is the second-most populous province with a population of approximately 3.56 million.  Currently, Juan Schiaretti serves as the governor.

Córdoba is economically powerful, rich in forests and mines, and well-developed in agriculture, animal husbandry, metallurgical industry, trade, and tourism, with the regional GDP accounting for about 8% of the national total. In addition, its primary industry, secondary industry, and tertiary industry contributed 9.5%, 26.8%, and 64% respectively to the province's economic development.  

Chongqing and Córdoba established sister province relations in May 2010.

View of Córdoba, photo provided to iChongqing

II. Introduction to Chongqing-Córdoba Exchanges

1. Important Mutual Visits 

In May 2010, Campana, President of Córdoba Congress and Vice-Governor of Córdoba, headed a delegation to visit Chongqing. Campana met Chongqing Mayor Huang Qifan and both sides signed the Agreement on the Establishment of Sister Province/City Relations between Chongqing of the People's Republic of China and Córdoba Province of the Republic of Argentina. The Córdoba delegation attended the opening ceremony of the Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT), organized the "Promotion and Exchange Meeting between Chongqing of China and Córdoba Province of Argentina", and visited several Chongqing-based enterprises such as Lifan Group, Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Co., Ltd., Shineray Motorcycles, Farms Agribusiness, and Chongqing Zhongyi Seed Co., Ltd. In addition, the delegation reached a sports cooperation intention with the Administration of Sport of Chongqing, came to an agreement with Sichuan International Studies University (SISU) concerning the establishment of the Confucius Institute in Córdoba, and built the relationship for mutual exchange student and scholarship programs, and discussed with Chongqing Academy of Science and Technology regarding promoting cooperation in food, daily chemical products, and biotechnology through experts' mutual visits. In August 2011, a delegation from Chongqing led by Fan Zhaobing, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department, visited Argentina. The Chongqing delegation met Campana, President of Córdoba Congress and Vice-Governor of Córdoba; visited Lifan Group's world's largest motorcycle parts customer based in Argentina, discussing and exploring the possibility from motorcycle component assembly to investment cooperation; visited the "Chongqing Office" specially set up by the Government of Córdoba Province for cultural exchanges and trade cooperation of Chongqing's enterprises and institutions; attended the "Chongqing–Córdoba Economic and Trade Cooperation Meeting". In November 2011, the Vice-Governor of Córdoba Campana led a delegation to attend the 8th China (Chongqing) International Garden Expo, and Fan Zhaobing, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Chongqing Municipal Committee and Head of the United Front Work Department received the delegation. In July 2012, a delegation led by Deputy Director of Chongqing Municipal People's Congress Hu Jiankang visited Argentina and held a talk with Aulireno, Secretary-General of International Relations of the Government of Córdoba Province concerning the promotion of friendly exchanges and cooperation between Chongqing and Córdoba.  The delegation visited the project of Chongqing Grain Group in Córdoba. Beyond that, the delegation discussed the establishment of the Confucius Institute with the National University of Córdoba and Blas Pascal University. In May 2016, Carlos Alessandri, Secretary-General of Regional Integration and International Relations of the Government of Córdoba Province, visited Chongqing and renewed the agreement on the sister province/city relations with Chongqing.  In August 2019, a Córdoba delegation headed by Carlos Alessandri visited Chongqing and attended the Smart China Expo (SCE) and the Second Mayors' Roundtable for International Sister Cities of Chongqing, China. 

Manufacture in Córdoba, photo provided to iChongqing

2. Local Cooperation

In November 2019, a group from the National University of Córdoba led by the university's Vice President Millian Alicia visited Chongqing.  During the visit, the group held a symposium with Chongqing Municipal Education Commission, visited Southwest University and SISU, and signed memorandums of understanding with the two universities.

In February 2020, Hauer Luciano Montoya, Secretary-General of Regional Integration of Córdoba sent a consolation letter to Chongqing Mayor Tang Liangzhi about the city's fight against COVID-19 and the mayor replied to extend gratitude.   

In May, Chongqing donated 1,200 protective suits, 1,532 N95 face masks, and 1,500 visors to Córdoba to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Juan Schiaretti, Governor of Córdoba, expressed his gratitude to Mayor Tang Liangzhi for the donation.

3. Projects of Golden Hope Agricultural Co., Ltd. in Córdoba

Golden Hope Agricultural Co., Ltd. was founded by Chongqing Grain Group in Córdoba, Argentina, in 2011. With a registered capital of 50 million U.S. dollars, it is an independent legal entity engaged in agricultural production, livestock breeding, international trade, etc. The company signed an open sale and purchase agreement in December 2011 with the landlord of Aijia Farm in Santiago del Estero to acquire the farm's permanent property rights. The farm covers a total area of 13,000 hectares, with the reclaimable land of 10,000 hectares. From 2015 to 2016, an area of 2,254 hectares at Aijia Farm was covered by soybeans and corn. In May 2016, 1,190 tons of soybeans were harvested, with a yield of 1.21 ton/hectare.

2021-10-25
|
1,455