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

China

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

2026-02-01 17:04 Last Updated At：23:27

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.

Infrared cameras capture snow leopard family at nature reserve in Inner Mongolia

The rare footage of a family of three snow leopards, including a cub playing with a stick, was released recently after being captured by infrared cameras at the Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The footage shows the three snow leopards briefly appeared together on a rocky hillside before the male walked off into the distance. In another clip, the cub played with a stick, walking around and occasionally lying down, while the female watched nearby.

"The cub is now almost the same size as an adult leopard. It is nearly one and a half years old and has adapted very well to the Helan Mountain environment. It is growing up very healthily," said a staff member of the administration bureau of the Helan Mountain National Nature Reserve.

The snow leopard is a first-class nationally protected wild animal in China, and its survival is an important indicator of the health of high-altitude ecosystems.

To protect its habitat, the reserve has continued to track individual snow leopards through field patrols and infrared camera inspections, accumulating rich data for species protection and scientific research.

To date, five individual snow leopards have been monitored in the reserve.