President Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay recently paid a one-week state visit to China, becoming the first leader from Latin America and the Caribbean to do so in 2026. The visit coincided with the 38th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations and with Uruguay’s assumption of the rotating chair of the Group of 77 and China, an economic grouping of developing countries, as well as in the wake of the brazen US kidnapping of the Venezuelan president and his wife at the beginning of the year.
President Xi Jinping met his Uruguayan counterpart on the morning of February 3.
Xi said that despite long distance between the two countries, China and Uruguay share similar ideals and profound friendship. On this very day 38 years ago, China and Uruguay established diplomatic relations. Thirty-eight years on, no matter how the international situation evolves, China and Uruguay have always engaged with each other in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Under the new circumstances, the two countries should carry forward past traditions, deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, and let the tree of China-Uruguay friendship continue to grow and flourish.
The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure construction, and information and communications technology, tap into the cooperation potential in emerging sectors such as green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean energy, and promote the transformation and upgrading of economic growth. The Chinese and Uruguayan people share a natural bond of affinity. The two sides should continue to deepen exchanges in areas such as culture, education, sports, and media and at the sub-national level, facilitate cross-border travel, and strengthen people-to-people connectivity.
Turning to the regional and international situation, President Xi Jinping noted that the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century, the international situation is volatile and turbulent, and unilateral bullying practices are growing more rampant. China supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating chair of the Group of 77 and China, and stands ready to work with Uruguay to strengthen solidarity and cooperation across the Global South, jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalisation, move forward together in pursuit of common development, and make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China attaches high importance to its relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), supports LAC countries in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests, and supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating chair of both the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). China stands ready to work with Uruguay and other regional countries to further deepen and substantiate the joint initiative of building a China-LAC community with a shared future.
President Yamandú Orsi said that China is an important cooperation partner of Uruguay and has provided selfless assistance for Uruguay’s economic and social development. Growing relations with China is now Uruguay’s state policy, gaining unanimous support from all political parties and across the society. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, poverty alleviation, green economy, and digital economy, and promote people-to-people exchanges in education, sports, tourism, and other fields in order to inject stronger momentum into Uruguay-China relations and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. Uruguay commends the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi Jinping. Facing the challenging international and regional situations, Uruguay stands ready to work with China to promote respect for the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international trading system, further advance LAC-China relations, and defend the common interests of the Global South.
Orsi also met on the same day with Premier Li Qiang and with Chair of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC) Zhao Leji.
Li Qiang said that since China and Uruguay established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023, bilateral cooperation across all sectors has accelerated, yielding a series of fruitful results.
Following the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China stands ready to work with Uruguay to provide firm mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests, actively share opportunities on the path of common development, enhance practical and mutually beneficial cooperation, and deliver greater benefits to the people of the two countries.
He noted that China fully supports Uruguay in its rotating presidencies of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), and in chairing the Group of 77 and China for 2026. China will maintain close multilateral communication and coordination with Uruguay to safeguard multilateralism and free trade, defend the common interests of the Global South, and uphold international order, fairness and justice.
Orsi said that Uruguay adheres firmly to the one-China principle, looks forward to close exchange and dialogue with China at all levels, actively participates in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and is deepening exchange and cooperation in various fields to bring improved benefits to the people of both countries. Uruguay is also ready to play an active role in promoting cooperation between MERCOSUR and China.
The following articles were originally published on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry and by the Xinhua News Agency.
President Xi Jinping Holds Talks With Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi
February 3 (MFA) – On the morning of February 3, 2026, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Yamandú Orsi of Uruguay, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
President Xi Jinping pointed out that despite long distance between the two countries, China and Uruguay share similar ideals and profound friendship. On this very day 38 years ago, China and Uruguay established diplomatic relations. Thirty-eight years on, no matter how the international situation evolves, China and Uruguay have always engaged with each other in the spirit of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Under the new circumstances, the two countries should carry forward past traditions, deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, and let the tree of China-Uruguay friendship continue to grow and flourish.
President Xi Jinping stressed that China and Uruguay should continue to firmly support each other’s core interests and major concerns, foster closer friendly interactions at all levels and in all areas, strengthen exchanges on governance experience, and continuously deepen strategic mutual trust. The fourth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) adopted the recommendations for formulating the 15th Five-Year Plan, drawing up a blueprint for China’s economic and social development in the coming five years and opening up more opportunities for Uruguay and countries around the world. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, finance, agriculture and animal husbandry, infrastructure construction, and information and communications technology, tap into the cooperation potential in emerging sectors such as green development, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean energy, and promote the transformation and upgrading of economic growth. The Chinese and Uruguayan people share a natural bond of affinity. The two sides should continue to deepen exchanges in areas such as culture, education, sports, and media and at the sub-national level, facilitate cross-border travel, and strengthen people-to-people connectivity.
President Xi Jinping noted that the world is undergoing changes unseen in a century, the international situation is volatile and turbulent, and unilateral bullying practices are growing more rampant. China supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating chair of the Group of 77 and China, and stands ready to work with Uruguay to strengthen solidarity and cooperation across the Global South, jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, move forward together in pursuit of common development, and make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity. China attaches high importance to its relations with countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), supports LAC countries in safeguarding their sovereignty, security and development interests, and supports Uruguay in assuming the rotating chair of both the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR). China stands ready to work with Uruguay and other regional countries to further deepen and substantiate the joint initiative of building a China-LAC community with a shared future.
President Yamandú Orsi said that China has made great and admirable achievements under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, and that the 15th Five-Year Plan will bring greater opportunities to the world. Today marks the 38th anniversary of Uruguay-China diplomatic relations. The comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is at its best time in history. China is an important cooperation partner of Uruguay, and has provided selfless assistance for Uruguay’s economic and social development. Growing relations with China is now Uruguay’s state policy, gaining unanimous support from all political parties and across the society. Uruguay firmly supports the one-China principle and supports the policy of One Country, Two Systems. Uruguay aspires to deepen comprehensive strategic partnership with China and bring bilateral cooperation to a higher level. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, deepen cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, science and technology, poverty alleviation, green economy, and digital economy, and promote people-to-people exchanges in education, sports, tourism, and other fields in order to inject stronger momentum into Uruguay-China relations and deliver greater benefits to the two peoples. Uruguay commends the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity proposed by President Xi Jinping. Facing the challenging international and regional situations, Uruguay stands ready to work with China to promote respect for the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, uphold multilateralism, safeguard the international trading system, further advance LAC-China relations, and defend the common interests of the Global South.
After the talks, the two heads of state jointly witnessed the signing of over 10 cooperation documents on investment promotion, trade, among others.
Prior to the talks, President Xi Jinping hosted a welcoming ceremony for President Yamandú Orsi in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
As President Yamandú Orsi arrived, a guard of honor lined up in salutation. The two heads of state stepped onto a stand, after which a military band played the national anthems of China and Uruguay as a 21-gun was fired in Tiananmen Square. President Yamandú Orsi reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past in President Xi Jinping’s company.
At noon, President Xi Jinping hosted a welcome banquet for President Yamandú Orsi in the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.
Wang Yi was present at the above events.
During the visit, the two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People’s Republic of China and the Oriental Republic of Uruguay on Deepening the China-Uruguay Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Chinese premier meets with Uruguayan president
BEIJING, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi in Beijing on Tuesday.
Li said that since China and Uruguay established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023, bilateral cooperation across all sectors has accelerated, yielding a series of fruitful results.
Following the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, China stands ready to work with Uruguay to provide firm mutual support on issues concerning each other’s core interests, actively share opportunities on the path of common development, enhance practical and mutually beneficial cooperation, and deliver greater benefits to the people of the two countries, he said.
China is set to continue adhering to openness and win-win cooperation with Uruguay. It is also willing to enhance the alignment of their development strategies and market connectivity, tap into their deep cooperation potential across various fields, further leverage their complementary advantages, and bring about more practical achievements, he added.
He urged both sides to utilize existing mechanisms, including the economic and trade mixed committee, to expand the scale and optimize the structure of bilateral trade, promote sci-tech and industrial innovation, cultivate new development drivers, and expand cooperation in artificial intelligence, the green economy, digital technology and biomedicine.
China is ready to import more high-quality Uruguayan products and encourage competitive Chinese enterprises to invest in Uruguay, and hopes that Uruguay will continue providing a favorable business environment for enterprises, Li said. He added that both sides should also enhance cooperation in areas such as culture, sports, youth and tourism, and continuously deepen their mutual understanding and friendship.
He noted that China fully supports Uruguay in its rotating presidencies of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur), and in chairing the Group of 77 and China for 2026.
China will maintain close multilateral communication and coordination with Uruguay to safeguard multilateralism and free trade, defend the common interests of the Global South, and uphold international order, fairness and justice, Li said.
Orsi said that Uruguay adheres firmly to the one-China principle, looks forward to close exchange and dialogue with China at all levels, actively participates in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and is deepening exchange and cooperation in various fields to bring improved benefits to the people of both countries.
Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest and establish businesses in Uruguay, Orsi said. Uruguay is a firm supporter of the global initiatives China has proposed, and is willing to work with China to strengthen multilateral coordination and safeguard multilateralism.
Uruguay is also ready to play an active role in promoting cooperation between Mercosur and China, he added.
