German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Germany has a "strategic interest" in a strong South America, as he arrived in Argentina as part of a four nation tour of the continent.

"I believe that the continent of South America as a whole is still very underestimated in Europe," Westerwelle said on Monday during a visit to Buenos Aires.

Westerwelle also visited the German-Argentinian chambers of commerce. In his speech there he vowed to boost German companies' presence on the continent.

"It will be one of the cornerstones of my foreign policy to open doors for German firms," he said.

He urged Argentina to do more to pay back the huge amount of debt it owes other countries. Westerwelle said tackling the debt issue would give German firms more confidence to invest in Argentina.

Visit to Chile

Earlier, Germany's foreign minister met his Chilean counterpart, Mariano Fernandez, in the capital, Santiago, to discuss reconstruction aid, a week after the South American country was hit by a devastating earthquake.

Westerwelle also met President-elect Sebastian Pinera, who is to succeed President Michelle Bachelet on March 11.

"We of course want to show our solidarity because Germany and Chile historically have very strong ties dating back to the first wave of German immigrants to Chile in the 1850s," Westerwelle told reporters at Santiago airport.

"We want to show that we will not forget our friends in their hour of need," Westerwelle said.

Fernandez thanked Westerwelle for "a further sign of international solidarity" since the national tragedy.

Accompanying Westerwelle is a four-person team from Germany's technical relief service, the THW, as well as relief goods for Concepcion, one of the cities worst-hit by the catastrophe.

The assistance, worth around 630,000 euros ($860,000), includes dialysis machines, drinking water containers, tents and blankets for those left homeless by the 8.8 magnitude quake that also triggered a devastating tsunami.

nrt/ng/AP/AFP/dpa
Editor: Chuck Penfold