Chinese new energy vehicles (NEVs) are widely recognized and far more popular than expected in Uruguay thanks to their high quality, said President of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay Yamandu Orsi in an interview with China Media Group (CMG) released on Friday.
Orsi gave the interview in Shanghai during his first state visit to China earlier this month.
From 2021 to 2024, Uruguay's NEVs sales skyrocketed by 2,330 percent, and cooperation with China is one of the most important contributing factors to the growth.
In 2025, one out of every three passenger vehicles sold in Uruguay was a Chinese new energy vehicle, according to data from the Automotive Trade Association of Uruguay (ACAU).
"It must be acknowledged that this is related to the Uruguayan people's recognition of Chinese brands, as they regard Chinese brands as high-quality. This has occurred naturally, because China has provided very good products, which is evident to all. Chinese electric vehicles were highly recognized very soon, which is beyond everyone's expectations. Different brands of electric vehicles have entered the market, which has offered more options for consumers when they purchase cars. These changes have amazed and delighted us all," he said.
Currently, China remains Uruguay's largest trading partner. The bilateral trade reached nearly 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2025, a 10-percent increase from 2024.
Uruguayan president commends Chinese NEVs' quality
South China's Guangdong Province is accelerating its transformation into an international medical tourism hub, positioning itself as a destination for patients worldwide seeking affordable, high-quality care.
The push follows a joint initiative announced in late March by nine Chinese government departments, including the Ministry of Commerce, aimed at boosting spending by foreign tourists and enhancing exports of tourism services as part of broader efforts to expand the country's service sector.
Every day, some of the most complex surgeries are performed here. Li Zilun, deputy director of the division of vascular surgery at the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat‑sen University, is among the doctors capable of carrying out these intricate procedures.
He recently completed surgery on a patient with an aortic aneurysm, a condition often described as a "time bomb" in the body’s main artery, increasingly common in aging societies around the globe. Li also specializes in highly difficult and pioneering procedures, including repairing leaks caused by failed grafts.
"This was a very challenging case. And then, we implanted the covered stent to eliminate the endoleak. Actually, the outcome was pretty good. The patient will be discharged today," said Li Zilun.
The ability to handle such complex cases -- combining international techniques with domestically produced devices -- is drawing patients from around the world to seek treatment. In addition, high safety standards and low costs are also major draws.
"Our government is encouraging innovation. So, lots of physicians -- including our vascular surgeons -- we are actively involved in the innovation that helps to increase the effectiveness and safety, and also bring down the cost," said Li.
This hospital is one of the first in Guangdong to be designated by the provincial health commission as a pilot site for building an international medical service hub.
The growing number of patients has pushed the hospital to explore new ways to transform every step -- from treatment to payment and everything in between -- into a seamless experience, reducing waiting times and delivering better care for patients.
"I think it's fast. When the patient come here for just about, I think, one week, you can solve the problem," said Xiao Haipeng, president of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University.
The hospital is also deepening its international cooperation with top-tier medical institutions, including those at Harvard University.
"Not just for China, for the whole globe, we are facing health care challenges -- emerging infectious disease and chronic, lung infectious diseases, and also the aging population, also the shortage of healthcare workforce," said Xiao.
In response to these challenges, China is promoting its own solutions, including aggressive innovation in artificial intelligence (AI)-driven workflows, while stepping up research and development investment and global engagement along the way.
"In recent years, the innovation in Western medicine is dramatically growing. An example of my hospital -- in the past few years, we have 140 innovations and seven of them are international leading innovations," said Xiao.
As global demand for medical tourism grows, China is positioning itself as a new destination. Official data shows that the number of foreign patients in Guangdong increased by 20 percent last year. Among them, the growth in inpatient admissions was even faster, rising by 76 percent.
Guangdong fast-tracks pilot for int'l medical service hub
