Argentina's President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner speaks after heading a meeting with governors in Casa Rosada government house in Buenos Aires, Jan 30, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]

BEIJING - Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner starts a three-day state visit to China on Tuesday at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The following is a profile of the Argentine president.

Born on Feb 19, 1953, Fernandez is a member of Argentina's Justicialist Party. Since 1989, she successively served as a deputy to the provincial legislature of Argentina's southern Santa Cruz province, first deputy speaker of the provincial law-making body, senator representing Santa Cruz of the national parliament, and member of Argentina's Chamber of Deputies, the country's lower house.

In October 2007, Fernandez was elected Argentina's president, and took office in December of the same year. In October 2011, she won re-election as Argentina's president, and was sworn in two months later.