Presidents Mauricio Macri of Argentina and Xi Jinping of China announced the more than 30 agriculture and investment deals during a state visit following the Group of 20 summit of leaders in Buenos Aires. The deals include an agreement to export Argentine cherries to China and an expansion of a currency swap.

China is among Argentina's top export markets, especially for agricultural commodities that are the engine of its economy. It is also one of Argentina's biggest lenders, financing about $18.2 billion in infrastructure and other projects, according to the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based think tank.

"China's development benefits Argentina, our region and the world," Macri said during a ceremony at the presidential residence in the outskirts of the Argentine capital.

"We have complementary countries. There are few countries in the world that can buy so many of the high-quality products that we're capable of making," Macri said.

The visit comes after U.S. officials said they had reached a 90-day truce in the trade dispute with China that has rattled financial markets and imperiled global economic growth. That announcement followed a Saturday dinner meeting between Xi and President Donald Trump.

Prince Akishino, the younger son of Emperor Akihito, told a news conference last month that he feels the money to pay for the religious ritual should come from the Imperial Family's personal budget rather than public funds.

The rite, known as "Daijosai," will be performed in connection with the enthronement of Crown Prince Naruhito next year. The government has decided the money for it should come out of the budget for the Imperial Family's official duties.

Prince Akishino said that regrettably agency officials were unmoved when he expressed his opinion.

The agency's vice grand steward, Yasuhiko Nishimura, told reporters on Monday that he does not believe the prince opposes the government's decision. He said he thinks the prince rebuked the agency for failing to give him a convincing answer.

Nishimura said the agency will try to gain the understanding of Imperial Family members, even if there are differences of opinion.

The Brazil-born entrepreneur is feted in Lebanon as a model of international success, and many were shocked by his arrest in Japan last month over alleged financial misconduct.

"We are all Carlos Ghosn," the digital billboards declared, under a large mosaic portrait of the 64-year-old tycoon, who is currently held in a Japanese prison.

Dany Kamal, managing partner at the Lebanese advertising firm that put them up, said the 18 billboards were a "personal initiative" as he was an acquaintance of Ghosn.

"It's just a campaign against injustice," he told AFP. "Until proven otherwise, Carlos is not guilty."

Ghosn spent his childhood years in Lebanon, and has regularly travelled back and forth to the tiny Mediterranean country.

The Lebanese authorities have repeatedly honoured him, and in 2017 Ghosn's portrait even appeared on a postal stamp.

Several Lebanese officials have expressed solidarity with Ghosn since his arrest on November 19, even as he denies allegations that he underreported his pay by millions of dollars.

"A Lebanese phoenix will not be scorched by a Japanese sun," Interior Minister Nohad Machnouk declared.

Last month, Foreign Minister Gibran Bassil received the Japanese ambassador Matahiro Yamaguchi to enquire about the circumstances of Ghosn's arrest and the conditions of his detention, the ministry said.

Ghosn faces an array of claims involving hiding money and benefits he received while chairman of Nissan and head of an alliance between the Japanese firm, Mitsubishi Motors and France's Renault.

While Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan have removed Ghosn, he remains chairman and CEO of Renault.

On social media, some in Lebanon have clamoured that Ghosn is innocent while others have seen his arrest as an example of better accountability in other countries.

"May all the gangs of thieves in Lebanon meet the same fate," one Lebanese social media user wrote online.