Uruguayan president expects to continue expanding cooperation with China

China

Uruguayan president expects to continue expanding cooperation with China

2026-02-14 07:07 Last Updated At：12:37

President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi said that he expects to continue to broaden the scope of cooperation with China as China's development is presenting significant opportunities to the Latin American country.

Orsi made his first state visit to China from Feb 1 to 7. During his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Feb 3, which marks the 38th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, Orsi said that China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) will bring greater opportunities to the world.

In an interview released by China Media Group (CMG) on Friday, Orsi reaffirmed Uruguay's commitment to deepening cooperation with China across various areas.

"Uruguayan entrepreneurs believe that accompanying the president on overseas visits is highly beneficial, especially when the destination is China. Visits to China have consistently generated the greatest expectations and attracted the largest business delegations. The reason I say that more and more entrepreneurs are joining these delegations is simple: It is evident that with each presidential visit to China, the size of the accompanying business delegation has continued to grow. More importantly, the sectors represented have become increasingly diverse. Several years ago, Uruguay's cooperation with China was largely focused on agricultural exports, mainly beef and soybeans. Today, representatives from industry, scientific research, academia and logistics are beginning to take part, and the biotechnology sector is gradually becoming involved as well. These explorations and partnerships are adding bricks and tiles to the building of Uruguay-China relations and laying new foundations for a better future for Uruguay," said Orsi.

As China continues to advance its high-quality development and open up new avenues for global cooperation, Uruguay sees clear pathways to diversify its economy, attract investment, and enhance innovation, President Orsi further explained in response to a question raised during the interview.

"To answer your question, the development signals China sends to the world and the plans it formulates make it possible to anticipate that more doors of opportunity are gradually opening. Uruguay is a sparsely populated country that urgently needs to create wealth in order to achieve better distribution and enhance the well-being of its people. Our entrepreneurs and workers are now able to envision broader development opportunities beyond Uruguay and South America, and these opportunities also represent a ray of hope for the world today. Our expectation is that the scope of Uruguay-China cooperation will continue to expand," he said.

Chinese envoy urges political process, humanitarian aid in Syria

A Chinese envoy on Friday called on factions in Syria to advance an inclusive political process and alleviate the humanitarian crisis, noting that the current situation in the country remains fragile.

Fu Cong, China's permanent representative to the United Nations, said at a UN Security Council meeting that advancing an inclusive political process is key to resolving the Syrian issue. China hopes that factions in Syria will uphold the ceasefire and integration agreement reached and restore stability as soon as possible, he said.

"We welcome the efforts made by the Syrian transitional government to protect the rights of ethnic minority groups. We hope that factions in Syria will adhere to the Syrian-led and Syrian-owned principle, engage in inclusive dialogue, and advance the political reconciliation process," Fu said.

He stated that countering terrorism is a prerequisite for maintaining security. Terrorist forces remain active in Syria, posing a serious threat to the security and stability of the country and the entire region.

The evolving situation in northeastern Syria has given rise to security risks involving extremist group terrorists, causing widespread concern within the international community. Fu noted that facilities holding terrorists and the Al-Hol camp should receive high attention and be properly managed.

The Chinese envoy also stressed that alleviating the humanitarian crisis is urgent for improving the living conditions of the Syrian people.

"The humanitarian situation in Syria is dire, with 16.5 million people in urgent need of humanitarian aid. Hundreds of thousands of people in the northeastern region have been displaced and are struggling in freezing cold and torrential rain. The international community, especially traditional donors, should increase humanitarian assistance in Syria and ensure that UN agencies and other humanitarian organizations receive adequate financial support. All parties need to help Syria recover and develop its economy in order to fundamentally address the root causes of its humanitarian plight and instability," Fu said.

Fu also pointed out that the situation in Syria is closely linked to that in the Middle East. The Golan Heights are recognized by the international community as occupied Syrian territory, and the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement should be observed. Israel should withdraw from Syrian territory as soon as possible.

He emphasized that China stands ready to continue to play a constructive role in helping Syria achieve security, stability, and development at an early date.