Many Latin leaders want a new bloc

Cuban leader Fidel Castro and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, were among the Latin American leaders who visited the government palace to pay their respects to the new president.

Reports say the discussions focused on greater regional integration and social development.

President Kirchner, whose new government was inaugurated on Sunday, is promising a greater protectionist stance for the region's second-largest economy, vowing to defend jobs and industry.

The Argentine Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa said that during the talks with Mr Castro the two leaders discussed Cuba's suggestion that its debts to Argentina should be renegotiated.

Earlier, President Castro, who was given a warm reception in Buenos Aires, paid homage to the Argentine liberation hero, Jose de San Martin.

Latin American bloc

President Kirchner, whose election adds to the left of centre leaders in South America, also held talks with the presidents of Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Uruguay, Brazil and Bolivia.

Many of the leaders, who arrived in Buenos Aires after attending a regional summit in Peru, have praised his calls for greater regional ties among Latin American nations.

Venezuela's Hugo Chavez said: "We need to create a new bloc of nations to negotiate with the North.

"It would be a Latin American front."

Spanish news agency Efe said Peru's Alejandro Toledo called on Latin American countries to look to each other rather than to the United States and Europe to "redefine the concept of integration".

Brazil's President Ignacio Lula da Silva said the two countries were experiencing the best moment in their relations.

He said the relationship between the leading Mercosur countries was "a fundamental factor for consolidating South America's genuine political, economic, social and cultural integration".

President Kirchner is the country's first elected leader since the country's economy collapsed 18 months ago.

Argentine dream

The inauguration was seen as a new beginning for a country struggling to steady itself after five years of recession, a $141bn debt default and deep currency devaluation.

A centre-left politician from Argentina's long-dominant Peronist Party, President Kirchner has promised to defend domestic jobs and industry after more than a decade of unbridled free market policies.

Since winning the presidency, Mr Kirchner has attacked US-backed free market reforms and promised a multi-billion-dollar public works programme to stimulate the economy.

"I have come to offer you a dream, to build truth and justice, and to again have an Argentina that includes everyone and is for everyone," he said.

Analysts say President Kirchner economic plan remains vague for reviving South America's third-largest economy.

Opinion polls give him 70% approval ratings and the BBC's Peter Greste in Buenos Aires says there is a clear sense of hope that perhaps Mr Kirchner is the leader the long-suffering Argentines have been looking for.