Uruguay advances its international integration with an official mission to China

Uruguay is advancing its international integration strategy through an official mission to the People’s Republic of China, taking place through February 7 and led by President of the Republic Yamandú Orsi. The visit brings together a political, business, and institutional agenda aimed at strengthening bilateral relations, expanding trade opportunities, attracting investment, and deepening cooperation in strategic areas for the country’s development.

China is Uruguay’s leading trading partner and a strategic market for its future growth. The bilateral relationship is underpinned by strong economic complementarity and a political bond consolidated over nearly four decades. Within this context, the mission represents a strategic State-level commitment to achieving concrete and long-term results.

In an interview with Chinese news agency Xinhua, President Orsi noted that relations between Uruguay and China “continue to move toward closer ties,” emphasizing the broad, cross-party consensus in Uruguay on the importance of further strengthening this relationship.

The official agenda reached a milestone on Tuesday, February 3, with a high-level bilateral summit between Presidents Yamandú Orsi and Xi Jinping, held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The meeting coincided with the 38th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. Following the summit, the delegations signed a broad set of agreements and memoranda of understanding covering areas such as investment and trade promotion, meat exports, science, technology and innovation, environmental cooperation, fisheries, intellectual property, emergency management, and communication.

During the meeting, President Orsi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with China and expressed Uruguay’s intention to “take it to a new level,” with a focus on diversifying trade in goods, expanding services, and attracting investment. He underscored Uruguay’s institutional stability and its role in South America and Latin America. President Xi Jinping, for his part, highlighted the “natural affinity” between the two peoples and called for deeper cooperation in both traditional and emerging fields, including green development, the digital economy, artificial intelligence, and clean energy.

The mission also included trade promotion activities and academic and scientific cooperation initiatives, with active participation from the Uruguayan business delegation in events jointly organized by Uruguay XXI and the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. These activities aimed to strengthen Uruguay’s presence in the Chinese market, identify new business opportunities, and position the country as a reliable and competitive destination for investment.

The economic context underscores the significance of the bilateral relationship. In 2025, China remained the main destination for Uruguayan exports, totaling USD 3.493 billion—26% of total exports—and representing growth of nearly 12% compared to 2024. China accounted for 86% of Uruguay’s soybean exports, was the leading buyer of pulp, and one of the most important markets for Uruguayan beef. At the same time, China was Uruguay’s main source of imports, with a diversified flow of industrial goods, machinery, and technology.

In terms of investment, China is among the world’s largest sources of foreign direct investment and maintains a growing presence in Uruguay across strategic sectors, including meat processing, agribusiness, logistics, telecommunications, energy, and technologies linked to the energy transition.

This official mission to China is part of Uruguay’s broader strategy to strengthen its international integration, generate trade and investment opportunities, promote cooperation in science and technology, and consolidate partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic growth and development. Throughout the week, Uruguay XXI will continue to advance this agenda through new cooperation initiatives and economic promotion activities, ensuring continuity in a strategic bilateral relationship.