Chinas leap toward high quality opens a window for Argentina

Alejandra Conconi is the executive director of the Argentina–China Chamber. This piece is part of the Argentine-Chinese Chamber of Commerce’s monthly column in the Buenos Aires Herald. China’s five-year plans are instruments of governance at the highest strategic level, as they set the roadmap that defines — politically, economically, and socially — the consensus on the country’s direction. Under the 15th plan, which will begin in March 2026, China will pursue moderate economic growth while strengthening its capabilities in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, and biotechnology. Its industry, which is characterized by high levels of automation and technological sophistication, will be a pillar of growth, seeking to position China as a competitive country in the production of manufactured goods with a high degree of value addition. Green transition objectives will also be significant. These include reducing fossil fuel use and shifting from a volume-based model to one that is more selective and innovative. Efforts will also be directed toward improving social welfare through the development of pensions, healthcare, and support for childbirth to address population aging. This leap in quality will lead more industries around the world to look to China as the territory where they purchase inputs and capital goods, which will continue to be offered at extremely competitive prices. New opportunities for Argentina China will continue to be a major global buyer of food and energy resources. Even after U.S. soybean exports to China are resumed, there will still be demand for Argentine resources such as grains, meats, and lithium, enabling new investment in these sectors. However, the rapid development in biotechnology expected over the next five years could affect bilateral negotiations over new genetically modified seed traits. As China strengthens its own agrotechnologies, interest in advancing agreements with Argentina for new types of seeds and agricultural products with genetic modifications could diminish. This means Argentina must secure its position in this stage of China’s development by emphasizing two axes. On the one hand, it must outcompete countries such as Australia, Chile, and Brazil in exports of grains, meats, and minerals, and through sectoral trips and trade missions, understand where battles have already been lost and where it makes sense to import directly from the Asian giant. Second, it is necessary to ensure that bilateral dialogue with China remains fluid, especially with regard to access to key technologies such as genetically modified seeds.  Finally, foreign direct investment in infrastructure projects for the country’s development must be increased. To achieve these objectives, direct interaction at the highest level between Buenos Aires and Beijing will be crucial in the coming years.