Argentina's President-Elect Javier Milei Expresses Gratitude To Xi Jinping In Stark Change In Tone For China

Argentina’s newly-elected President, Javier Milei, has taken a stark change in tone towards China’s leadership. Milei, known for his radical libertarian views, expressed his thanks to Chinese President Xi Jinping for his congratulatory message on Milei’s election win. This surprising move suggests a significant softening in Milei’s previously stringent approach towards China’s communist regime.

What Happened: As reported in a Reuters article, Milei publicly thanked Xi for his encouraging message and good wishes. This gesture is a clear departure from his prior critiques of China’s leadership.

“I thank President Xi Jinping for the congratulations and good wishes,” said Milei on his personal X account. He also extended his wishes for the welfare of the Chinese people.

During his campaign, Milei hinted at reluctance to do business with China, citing its government’s limitations on individual freedoms. This is despite the fact that China is Argentina’s second-largest trading partner, with Brazil leading the pack.

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Xi’s congratulatory message underlined the importance of China-Argentina relations and expressed his willingness to collaborate with Milei for the mutual benefit of their nations.

When Milei assumes office on Dec. 10, he will be grappling with an Argentina plagued with triple-digit annual inflation, dwindling foreign reserves, and a soaring poverty rate of over 40%.

Remarkably, since his election win, Milei has been demonstrating a softer stance towards those he once criticized, including Pope Francis and former U.S. President Donald Trump, whom he thanked for their congratulatory messages.

Why It Matters: Milei’s election victory has already created ripples in Argentina and beyond. Just three days post his win, Milei announced a series of bold moves, including the privatization of national companies, halting public works, curtailing benefits, and shutting down several ministries to slash public expenditure. Furthermore, he expressed his intention to abandon the country’s domestic peso in favor of the U.S. dollar. His approach towards tackling Argentina’s triple-digit inflation, which currently stands at over 140%, is anticipated with keen interest.

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