BUENOS AIRES - Argentinean vice presidential candidate Javier Gonzalez Fraga Tuesday called the relationship between Argentina and China very important and pledged to deepen bilateral ties.

Gonzalez, ex-chief of Argentina's Central Bank under former President Carlos Menem, told Xinhua that "to strengthen relations and cooperation with China is very important; our main goal will be to increase trade with China." He cited Brazil-China relations as an example.

China is Argentina's second largest trade partner after Brazil. Bilateral trade volume has reached $13.5 billion, according to official reports.

Gonzalez expressed his concerns over the economic fragility of the Latin American country during the global financial crisis, saying that though the crisis didn't severely affect Argentina, there have been negative effects on taxes and reserves.

Argentina will hold general elections on Oct 23 Gonzalez has been nominated as running-mate by the Radical Civic Union Party's presidential candidate Ricardo Alfonsin for his 2011 campaign.