Uruguay seeks to deepen, diversify already robust trade partnership with China: official

As Uruguayan President Yamandu Orsi begins his state visit to China, this South American country is aiming to use the occasion to strengthen and broaden already robust economic ties with its largest export partner, China, an economic official has said.

At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, President Orsi is paying a week-long state visit to China from Feb. 1 to 7.

In an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN), Martin Mercado, deputy executive director of Uruguay XXI, the country's export and investment agency, signaled the country's readiness to advance beyond traditional trade with China and capitalize on the momentum in their bilateral relationship.

"The stage of our economic cooperation, our trade between Uruguay and China is robust and dynamic. As of December 2025, China represents 26 percent of all the goods exported by Uruguay. So it's our main economic partner in terms of goods exports. And I think we're at a stage right now that we can move forward into more diverse basket of goods. This 26 percent is dominated mainly by soybean, beef and cellulose, so I think this stage is set to move forward," said Mercado.

Orsi's visit marks his first to China since taking office in 2025. It also coincides with the 38th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Uruguay on February 3, a symbolic backdrop for a trip aimed at further deepening the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership.

Mercado expressed hopes that the visit will lead to a concrete work plan for expanded trade, as well as enhanced technical and scientific cooperation in the coming years.

"A big part of our private sector is coming along with our president. This means a trust in the Uruguayan and Chinese relationship for the past 40 years and I think it'll be a good time to strengthen economic relationships, and that in the next few years, with this visit, we can have a work plan and widen our basket of goods exported and technical and scientific cooperation between Uruguay and China. It's a good time for expansion of our relationship, seeing how the world trade is conducted right now," said the Uruguayan official.

In 2018, Uruguay became the first ERCOSUR country to join the Belt and Road Initiative. Mercado highlighted the BRI as a timely mechanism to enhance Uruguay-China trade efficiency.

"This is a good opportunity to take advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative. We're pretty far apart and trade cost can be high sometimes. Uruguay has been a member, part of it for quite a few years and I think this brings to the table an opportunity for a smooth and better trade. This could lower trade cost between the two nations," he said.

Uruguay seeks to deepen, diversify already robust trade partnership with China: official

Uruguay seeks to deepen, diversify already robust trade partnership with China: official

Spain is seeing a surge in European tourists as conflict in the Middle East prompts travelers to opt for closer and safer destinations.

With Easter holiday underway, Palma de Mallorca airport has been packed with visitors who abandoned plans for trips eastward. Hostilities triggered by Israeli‑U.S. strikes on Iran have forced major airports across the Middle East to cancel or delay flights, severely disrupting aviation and tourism in the region.

"We were thinking about going to Dubai, but because of the war, there was no option, so we came here to Mallorca," said a traveler named Michelle, who works as a kindergarten teacher.

"We thought about going to Thailand, but I see the flights were disrupted and they said there were drones and things like that, so we thought Spain may be a safer option," another traveler Ross McGrego said.

"The situation in the Middle East is a little bit too unstable for my holiday plans," said traveler Rose Danaher, a rabies specialist nurse with the UK Health Services Agency.

The influx has brought new opportunities for local businesses. Local restaurant owner in Mallorca Victoria Amoros opened her second restaurant just days ago.

"50,000 people extra are flying to Mallorca. These people were supposed to fly to the Middle East and they are rerouted to Mallorca. I don't know how we are going to handle that, but we will receive them with love," said Amoros, owner of La Malvasia Restaurant Chain.

Chris Pomeroy, the global head of tourism of international communications group Hopscotch said people all over the world are choosing to holiday closer to home.

"So, 14 percent of international travel goes through the Middle East, it's a connectivity issue. So, when these bridges are down, the logical effect is that people will stay in their hemisphere. We say in tourism that when in times of conflict, investors turn to gold, and in times of conflict, tour operators turn to Spain," he said.

Spain welcomed a record 97 million foreign tourists in 2025, and industry experts say the figure could surpass 100 million this year. With Middle East routes disrupted, Spain's role as Europe's fallback destination is set to grow even further.

Spain tourism surges as Europeans opt for safer holidays amid Middle East conflict