Uruguay defense official calls for countries to have greater national autonomy

An Uruguayan defense official has called for greater autonomy for countries in shaping their own security strategies, while stressing the importance of cooperation in addressing shared threats.

Uruguay's Director General of Defense Policy Nadia Almeida talked about her country's approach to regional security and its growing ties with China during an interview with China Global Television Network (CGTN) at the Beijing Xiangshan Forum, which runs from Tuesday to Thursday in the Chinese capital.

"We advocate for countries to be able to maintain their national autonomy and sovereignty. We advocate for Latin America to be an important actor in what has to do with its self-determination. Each country has its own different characteristics; it has its own different interests, but it always has to be within the framework of respect for each other and in favor of common cooperation. When there are transnational threats, such as transnational organized crime or cyberattacks, which are non-visible and non-tangible enemies, we need to be aware of them. We need to create a framework of cooperation between countries and a framework of trust," she said.

On relations with China, a major proponent of this approach, the official said that ties between the two countries are growing stronger on the basis of mutual respect.

"China is a very important country in terms of trade for our country. I understand that these relations between China and Uruguay are not relations of a small country versus a power, but China establishes a framework of cooperation. China is an actor in cooperation that we respect a lot," said Almeida.

She stressed that the relationship is not limited to trade, pointing to broader areas of exchange and cooperation between the two countries.

"Beyond the commercial side, in different areas, we even have a deep friendship between China and Uruguay. The ties are growing. To my understanding, such ties are based on equality and cooperation, mutual respect and solidarity. And I think the growing relations also contribute to international security," she added.

Themed "Build Consensus on Stability, Advance Security Governance Together," this year's forum has drawn attendees from almost 100 countries, regions and international organizations.

Uruguay defense official calls for countries to have greater national autonomy

China has continued to push forward the rural construction initiative this year, bringing steady improvements to rural production and day to day living conditions.

So far, the total mileage of rural roads across the country has reached 4.7 million kilometers.

In Songhui Village, Zanhuang County of north China's Hebei Province, local authorities have invested over 40 million yuan (about 5.96 million U.S. dollars) this year to upgrade 287,000 square meters of roads and install streetlights. A new road is currently under construction in the village.

"Once completed, the road will connect three nearby townships and 16 administrative villages, fundamentally improving travel for local farmers, the transport of agricultural produce, and the development of tourism," said Hao Longhai, a local construction official.

Villages in China have also focused on the needs of local specialty industries, targeting shortcomings in production-related infrastructure.

In Taihu County of east China's Anhui Province, where cattle farming is a major driver of villagers' incomes, local authorities have coordinated roughly 30 million yuan in rural development funds this year to advance a provincial-level breed conservation center and an organic fertilizer processing plant.

"Conditions have been improved significantly. What matters most is that my cattle pen can now connect to the province-wide remote monitoring system for livestock and poultry genetic resources, enabling work such as breed conservation, breeding, scientific research and disease prevention to be managed through an online platform," said Zhu Yong, head of a local breed conservation center.

Infrastructure for day to day living is also a key priority in rural development efforts this year.

As of the end of August, over 130 billion yuan in project funding had been secured for rural construction, and steady improvements have been made to village roads, water supply and drainage systems, sanitary toilet upgrades, household waste and sewage treatment and elderly care facilities.

Living, production conditions in China's rural areas continuously improved