BUENOS AIRES, Oct 6, 2008 (AFP) - Belgian Prince Philippe on Monday led a trade mission to Argentina, opening a bilateral business leaders' conference and planning a meeting with President Cristina Kirchner, officials said.

The prince and Argentina's foreign minister, Jorge Taiana, inaugurated the conference in Buenos Aires.

On Tuesday, Prince Philippe and Belgian Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht were to hold a working lunch with Kirchner.

Trade between the countries reached 655 million dollars last year, nearly two-thirds of which was Argentine exports to Belgium.