BUENOS AIRES, Sept. 2 (Xinhua) — The high-level opening-up promoted by China offers the world an opportunity to consolidate more advanced forms of exchanges in services, with the Belt and Road Initiative a key mechanism to advance this Target, said today the president of the Argentine company IATASA, Fernando Fazzolari.
Fazzolari made the statements in an interview via video.
The president of IATASA, a professional engineering services company for infrastructure projects, first assured that the proposals put forward by the Chinese president are in line with China’s “high level of development” resulting from the effectiveness of reform and opening up in the late 1970s.
“The opening of China, which began in 1978, was a success and has enabled us to reach the level of development that China currently has. I believe that other actors should now be involved, those who make up knowledge-based services.” . . and in this case, the integration of science, technology and service institutes would be of great benefit to China and the rest of the world,” Fazzolari said.
Also a member of the Argentina-China Chamber of Production, Industry and Trade (CACPIC), he highlighted President Xi’s statements that the Asian country will expand the opening of services, telecommunications, tourism and other sectors.
“The high-end sector, the development of satellites, telecommunications and mobile phones is experiencing a very important acceleration and very rapid changes, as well as the development of alternative energy technologies, solar wind, hydrogen, heat, liquefaction and conversion of gas “To have an absorptive factor in Argentina today” , impacts the way services are provided around these activities, he noted.
Fazzolari mentioned that trade in services in Argentina has recovered in recent years, registering a growth of more than 50 percent in 2022 compared to 2021, with most offices being “knowledge-based services”.
However, he noted that there are various “challenges” to continuing on the path of expanding offices in the sector and becoming more China-focused, such as: B. reducing linguistic and cultural differences or achieving greater “compatibility of technological programs”. All of this could be the subject of a broader integration program between the two countries.
“The Belt and Road Initiative was a very important beginning, now the incorporation of Argentina into the BRICS group (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) will expand relations even further,” he commented.
According to official data, Argentina exported services worth $14,487 million in 2022, while the South American country delivered services worth $4,295 million in the first quarter of the current year.
In this sense, Fazzolari emphasized that “if you analyze the evolution of Argentina’s exports in the field of knowledge-based services, you will notice a very significant growth in the last decade, in fact it is today one of the most unique “growth sectors” of its trade balance”.
In addition, the President of IATASA highlighted President Xi’s statements on various Chinese initiatives to ensure technological innovation in line with environmental goals, such as the establishment of a national commercial market for voluntary reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
“What President Xi said about technological innovation, research and development programs and scientific exchanges is the basis for improving production conditions around the world,” he said.
“China has developed cutting-edge technologies that are increasingly focused on reducing the carbon footprint of all its industries, while exporting goods incorporating these cutting-edge technologies through multilateral trade,” the CACPIC member added.
Among the examples of direct exchange of services that Fazzolari has experienced is the agreement that the company IATASA concluded with Bei Fang Investigation, Design & Research CO., LTD. has implemented. for additional measures in knowledge and tasks in the hydropower and hydraulic engineering sector.
“We have worked with them to support Chinese companies in mining and transportation. On the other hand, behind all investments in our case related to infrastructure there is a technological exchange based on the operation itself, both in processes and in equipment. This is an indirect way to develop the shared services sector,” Fazzolari said.
The President of IATASA concluded by stating that “uniting Chinese service companies with their counterparts from Argentina would be a major step towards achieving common goals of both countries and all members of the BRICS Treaty.”