Orsi in Shanghai: “I invite you to see Uruguay as a strategic partner”

Uruguay’s official mission to China reached one of its key economic promotion milestones in Shanghai with a trade and investment seminar co-organized by Uruguay XXI and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT). Held at the Shangri-La Pudong Hotel, the event brought together more than 170 Chinese business leaders, along with the Uruguayan official and business delegations, with the aim of strengthening Uruguay’s presence in the Chinese market, identifying new business opportunities, and positioning the country as a reliable and competitive investment destination.

President Yamandú Orsi led the seminar and reaffirmed the importance of Uruguay’s relationship with the People’s Republic of China, which he described as “a comprehensive strategic partner for Uruguay’s economic and sustainable development.” He highlighted the participation of the Uruguayan business delegation—comprising more than 100 business leaders—as a clear sign of the private sector’s commitment to strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations.

Orsi emphasized that Uruguay is open to receiving additional high-quality productive investment from China and outlined the foundations of investor confidence in the country. “We have clear rules, legal certainty, investment incentives, renewable energy, and a State policy that transcends changes in government,” he said. He encouraged Chinese entrepreneurs to “see Uruguay not only as a market, but as a strategic partner, a reliable platform, and a gateway to South America.”

The president also reviewed the evolution of bilateral relations, recalling that in 2016 Uruguay and China established a strategic partnership that was later elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership. “This reflects a mature relationship based on trust, predictability, and mutual respect,” he noted, adding that cooperation extends beyond trade in goods and services to areas such as climate change, food security, and sustainable development. In this context, he recalled that Uruguay was among the first countries in the region to join the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018.

Orsi further highlighted Uruguay’s role as a regional platform. “Our strategic geographic location, institutional stability, and openness position us as a reliable logistics hub in the South Atlantic, with seamless access to Mercosur and South American markets,” he said. He also noted that China has been Uruguay’s main trading partner for 14 consecutive years, underscoring the predictability and resilience of the relationship even amid global economic uncertainty.

The country presentation was complemented by remarks from Martín Vallcorba, Undersecretary of Economy and Finance, and Mariana Ferreira, Executive Director of Uruguay XXI. Vallcorba stated that “Uruguay offers a set of characteristics that make it an extremely attractive destination for investment from China,” highlighting political, institutional, economic, and social stability, high levels of transparency, and strong respect for the rule of law. He also pointed to Uruguay’s ease of doing business, including access to markets, financial openness, investment incentives, world-class infrastructure, a dynamic innovation ecosystem, and a strong commitment to sustainability. “Uruguay is a leader in ESG standards among emerging economies,” he said, emphasizing as well the country’s focus on human talent and quality of life.

For her part, Ferreira presented Uruguay’s export profile and the complementary nature of bilateral trade. “Uruguay exported approximately USD 20 billion in 2025,” she noted, explaining that more than half consisted of agricultural products such as meat, dairy, pulp, wood, and cereals, alongside services exports. “We export global services, including information technology, business, digital, and logistics services,” she added. Referring to China, Ferreira emphasized that it has been Uruguay’s main destination for goods exports for more than 14 years, accounting for more than a quarter of total goods exports, and noted that China is also Uruguay’s main source of imports—reflecting a long-term, complementary trade relationship.

The seminar concluded with a business matchmaking session, enabling Uruguayan and Chinese companies to meet directly, exchange information, and explore concrete opportunities for trade and investment cooperation.

With this event in Shanghai, Uruguay XXI advanced the mission’s trade and investment promotion agenda, reinforcing Uruguay’s positioning as a trusted partner for long-term business development in China and as a strategic platform for regional expansion in South America.