Agustín González, the mayor of Cruz Alta, will be traveling to Beijing to participate in the “Beijing Forum on Rapid Response to Public Complaints,” scheduled for December 18-19. He will be accompanied by Gonzalo Fiore Viani. This marks their first trip to China.
Cruz Alta is a town and municipality in the Marcos Juárez Department of Córdoba Province, Argentina, located 323 km southeast of the city of Córdoba, near the border with Santa Fe Province. Due to its economic model based on agribusiness, Cruz Alta sees significant opportunities for economic and social collaboration with China. On this occasion, the focus is on urban security, aiming to learn from the experience of a megacity like Beijing, which has over 25 million inhabitants.
Recognizing the importance of China as an economic and political hub, González had earlier traveled to Russia this year to represent Argentine municipalities in Kazan, Russia. He joined mayors from BRICS countries in an effort to strengthen ties with these emerging powers.
“Being part of this historic event is something that will undoubtedly help us continue on the path of global growth,” González said at the time.
The BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) account for 16% of global trade, 42% of the world’s population, one-third of the planet’s landmass, and around 20% of total investment.
Córdoba on the map
In his first trip to China, González plans to visit companies and governmental organizations, organizing a packed schedule of meetings with representatives from various sectors. His visit to Beijing comes months after the Chinese Ambassador to Argentina, Wang Wei, visited Córdoba. During that visit, he held meetings with representatives of several Chinese companies, including Energy China, Huawei, ICBC, and Goldwind, and participated in the China Day event organized by the Argentina-China Chamber of Commerce.
Córdoba’s Governor Martín Llaryora is expected to visit China in 2025, following an invitation extended by Ambassador Wei during the diplomat’s meetings with Córdoba’s leadership. During these discussions, Wang Wei even suggested the possibility of a Chinese automobile manufacturer establishing operations in Córdoba. Talks also explored expanding cooperation in software development, AI, technology, and Smart Cities.
Additionally, Argentine President Javier Milei is expected to visit Beijing next year, further highlighting China’s growing prominence in Córdoba’s and Argentina’s political agenda.
Fiore Viani’s perspective on the forum
Invited by the Dragon Boat Association, chaired by Liu Jingang, Mayor González will be joined by Gonzalo Fiore Viani, a renowned international relations expert and political scientist from Córdoba. Fiore Viani has extensive expertise in geopolitics and China, subjects he teaches at the Business School of the Catholic University of Córdoba, led by academic Mariano Mosquera. He also regularly publishes articles and appears in various media outlets.
For Fiore Viani, who spoke with ReporteAsia: “This trip will likely be the first of many and represents a great opportunity to deepen ties in political, academic, and cultural sectors.”
The Beijing Forum on Rapid Response to Public Complaints, sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Media Group, the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC, and the Beijing Municipal People’s Government, serves as an international platform dedicated to finding innovative and practical solutions to public service issues and sharing urban governance experiences. The next edition of the Forum is scheduled for December 18-19, 2024, in Beijing.
“The Forum’s permanent theme is ‘City of the People, Better Future,’ and this year’s special theme is ‘Modernization for People-Centered Urban Governance.’ It includes an opening ceremony, a main forum, six parallel forums, and a closing ceremony,” Fiore Viani added.
The Forum is expected to delve deeply into the theory and practice of urban governance, showcasing achievements in theoretical research. Additionally, evaluation reports on government service hotlines and their governance performance worldwide will be presented.
“Lastly, visitors to the Forum, both local and international, will be invited to tour the ‘12345 Hotline Service Center’ to observe public service operations in Beijing, which will undoubtedly be an incredible experience,” concluded the expert.
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